Search Results (126)

Accurately estimating leaves’ relative chlorophyll contents (widely represented by Soil and Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values) across growth stages is crucial for assessing crop health, particularly in regions characterized by varying sowing dates. Unlike previous studies focusing on high-resolution UAV imagery or specific growth stages, this research incorporates satellite-derived texture indices (TIs) into a SPAD value estimation model applicable across multiple growth stages (from tillering to grain-filling). Field experiments were conducted in Jiangsu Province, China, where winter wheat sowing dates varied significantly from field to field. Sentinel-2 imagery was employed to extract vegetation indices (VIs) and TIs. Following a two-step variable selection method, Random Forest (RF)-LassoCV, five machine learning algorithms were applied to develop estimation models. The newly developed model (SVR-RBF_VIs+TIs) exhibited robust estimation performance (R² = 0.8131, RMSE = 3.2333, RRMSE = 0.0710, and RPD = 2.3424) when validated against independent SPAD value datasets collected from fields with varying sowing dates. Moreover, this optimal model also exhibited a notable level of transferability at another location with different sowing times, wheat varieties, and soil types from the modeling area. In addition, this research revealed that despite the lower resolution of satellite imagery compared to UAV imagery, the incorporation of TIs significantly improved estimation accuracies compared to the sole use of VIs typical in previous studies. Full article

Remaining useful life (RUL) serves as a pivotal metric for quantifying lithium-ion batteries’ state of health (SOH) in electric vehicles and plays a crucial role in ensuring their safety and reliability. In order to achieve accurate and reliable RUL prediction, a novel RUL prediction method which employs a back propagation (BP) neural network based on the Harris Hawks optimization (HHO) algorithm is proposed. This method optimizes the BP parameters using the improved HHO algorithm. At first, the circle chaotic mapping method is utilized to solve the problem of the initial value. Considering the problem of local convergence, Gaussian mutation is introduced to improve the search ability of the algorithm. Subsequently, two key health factors are selected as input features for the model, including the constant-current charging isovoltage rise time and constant-current discharging isovoltage drop time. The model is validated using aging data from commercial lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries. Finally, the model is thoroughly verified under an aging test. Experimental validation using training sets comprising 50%, 60%, and 70% of the cycle data demonstrates superior predictive performance, with mean absolute error (MAE) values below 0.012, root mean square error (RMSE) values below 0.017 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) within 0.95%. The results indicate that the model significantly improves prediction accuracy, robustness and searchability. Full article

Salmonella is a rapidly spreading and widespread zoonotic infectious disease that poses a serious threat to the safety of both poultry and human lives. Therefore, the timely detection of Salmonella in foods and animals has become an urgent need for food safety. This work describes the construction of an aptamer-based sensor for Salmonella detection, using Fe₃O₄ magnetic beads and Ag@Au core–shell nanoparticles-embedded 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4MBA). Leveraging the high affinity between biotin and streptavidin, aptamers were conjugated to Fe₃O₄ magnetic beads. These beads were then combined with Ag@4MBA@Au nanoparticles functionalized with complementary aptamers through hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions, yielding a SERS-based aptamer sensor with optimized Raman signals from 4MBA. When target bacteria are present, aptamer-conjugated magnetic beads exhibit preferential binding to the bacteria, leading to a decrease in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal. And it was used for the detection of five different serotypes of Salmonella, respectively, and the results showed that the aptamer sensor exhibited a good linear relationship between the concentration range of 10²–10⁸ CFU/mL and LOD is 35.51 CFU/mL. The SERS aptasensor was utilized for the detection of spiked authentic samples with recoveries between 94.0 and 100.4%, which proved the usability of the method and helped to achieve food safety detection. Full article

In high-density and land-scarce urban environments such as Taipei—a typical example of compact development in East Asia—informal green spaces (IGSs)—defined as unmanaged or unplanned vegetated urban areas such as vacant lots, street verges, and railway margins—play a growing role in urban environmental and social dynamics. This study explores residents’ perceptions of IGSs and examines how these spaces contribute to urban sustainability and land governance. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines the literature review, field observations, and a structured public opinion survey in Taipei’s Wenshan District, the study identifies key perceived benefits and drawbacks of IGSs. Findings show that residents highly value IGSs for enhancing urban greenery, offering recreational opportunities, and promoting physical and mental health. However, concerns persist regarding safety, sanitation, and maintenance—particularly fears of waste accumulation, mosquito breeding, and risks to children. The results highlight the dual nature of IGSs as both vital ecological assets and potential sources of urban disorder. These insights underscore the need for inclusive, community-based governance models that can transform IGSs into legitimate components of green infrastructure. The study contributes to emerging discussions on adaptive urban land governance by proposing that informal spaces be strategically integrated into urban planning frameworks to enhance environmental equity, resilience, and citizen well-being. Full article

Background: Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is a destructive disease that severely compromises cotton yield and fiber quality. Pyrimidine nucleotides, as essential metabolites and nucleic acid components, play critical roles in plant development and stress responses. However, genes involved in pyrimidine metabolism, especially their roles in disease resistance, remain largely uncharacterized in plants. Methods: Ghir_D05G039120, a gene encoding uridine kinase, shown to be associated with VW resistance in our previous study, was cloned and named as GhUKL4. The differential expression of GhUKL4 between the resistant and susceptible cultivars at multiple time points post-inoculation with V. dahliae was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (UPRT) and uridine 5′-monophosphate kinase (UMPK) domains were verified by analyzing the amino acid sequences of GhUKL4. The role of GhUKL4 in the defense against VW infection was estimated by silencing GhUKL4 in the resistant and susceptible cultivars using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analysis. Results: There were significant differences in the expression level of Ghir_D05G039120/ GhUKL4 among resistant and susceptible cotton lines. GhUKL4 contains UPRTase and UMPK domains, and there was one SNP between the resistant and susceptible cultivars in its 3′-UTR region. The silencing of GhUKL4 reduced cotton’s resistance to VW through mediating hormone signaling (JA) and oxidative stress (ROS) pathways. Conclusions: GhUKL4, encoding UMPK and UPRTase domain proteins, is a new regulatory factor associated with VW resistance in Gossypium hirsutum through fine-tuning JA-signalling and ROS bursting. Full article

The pyrolysis carbon black (CBp) from waste tires contains zinc, iron, and other metal elements, which have high recycling value. This study proposes a simple method of recovering zinc and iron from waste tire-derived CBp to synthesize hydrotalcite-type adsorbents for the treatment of anodic dye wastewater. Firstly, zinc-aluminum hydrotalcite (LDH) and zinc-iron aluminum hydrotalcite (FeLDH) were obtained by leaching the zinc and iron ions from CBp with an acid solution. As compared with LDH, FeLDH shows increased laminate metal ion arrangement density and layer spacing. By calcining the LDH and FeLDH at 500 °C, zinc aluminum oxides (LDO) and zinc iron aluminum oxides (FeLDO) were then prepared and applied for the adsorption of dye methyl orange (MO). The results demonstrate that the maximum adsorption capacity of LDO and FeLDO are 304.9 and 609.8 mg g⁻¹ at pH of 4.0, respectively. The adsorption processes of both LDO and FeLDO are consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the proposed second-order kinetic model. The adsorption regeneration performance and adsorption mechanism of LDO and FeLDO were also investigated in detail. Regeneration experiments show that after three cycles, the removal rate of MO by LDO remains above 80%, while that of FeLDO only remains around 64% in the first cycle after regeneration. This work would provide a new pathway to realize the high-value metal recycling of waste tire-derived CBp and solve the contamination of dye wastewater. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementing broiler feed with high-yield protease Bacillus subtilis strain FRE76 on growth performance, slaughter performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota. One-day-old Arbor Acres broilers (n = 240) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6 replicates; 10 animals per replicate), in which their basal diet was supplemented with B. subtilis strain FRE76 at 0 CFU/kg (group C), 3.60 × 10⁸ CFU/kg (group L), 1.08 × 10⁹ CFU/kg (group M), and 1.80 × 10⁹ CFU/kg (group H). The experiment lasted for 42 d and comprised two phases: Days 1–21 and days 22–42. The broilers’ body weight at 21 d and the average daily gain at 1–21 d in the L and H groups increased significantly relative to those in group C (p < 0.05). The half-bore weight, half-bore percentage, and breast muscle percentage in group L were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in group C. The apparent digestibility of crude protein in group L and the ether extract in groups L, M, and H were significantly increased at 22–42 d compared with those in group C (p < 0.05). In group L, the jejunal villus height and villus height/crypt depth increased significantly relative to those in group C (p < 0.05). The chymotrypsin and trypsin activities tended to increase in the B. subtilis FRE76 groups (p = 0.072 and p = 0.056, respectively) relative to those in group C. Additionally, the abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Alistipes, Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, and Parabacteroides increased significantly in the B. subtilis FRE76 groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary B. subtilis FRE76 could improve broilers’ body weight, average daily gain, apparent digestibility, protease activity, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota. Full article

Background and Objectives: Post-transplant anastomotic pseudoaneurysms are a rare but serious complication of renal transplantation, typically requiring graft sacrifice. This case report demonstrates a novel hybrid approach for managing a mycotic pseudoaneurysm while preserving graft function. Case report: A 56-year-old male developed a pseudoaneurysm at the anastomotic site after cadaveric kidney transplantation, presenting with recurrent infections and declining renal function. Imaging confirmed the pseudoaneurysm. A hybrid strategy combining femoral–femoral bypass with a polytetrafluoroethylene graft, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting, and coil embolization was performed. Results: The intervention successfully isolated the pseudoaneurysm and preserved graft function. Post-procedure, serum creatinine levels improved, stabilizing at 2.3 mg/dL during follow-up. Imaging confirmed no residual flow in the aneurysm, and vascular complications were absent. Conclusions: This report highlights a successful combined surgical and endovascular approach for treating mycotic pseudoaneurysms, preserving graft function and restoring limb blood flow. This strategy offers a promising alternative for managing complex post-transplant complications, though long-term outcomes require further evaluation. Full article

Background: Monitoring bone mineral density (BMD) in adults is critical for early detection of osteoporosis and prevention of fracture, for which quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is a good non-invasive tool. We examined the associations of QUS measures, including stiffness index (SI) and T-score, with socio-demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric correlates and risk of subsequent fracture. Methods: Calcaneal QUS was performed using GE’s Lunar Achilles EXPII among 24,651 adults (mean age 59.5 years, 61.7% women) from the China Kadoorie Biobank study. Socio-demographic and lifestyle information was collected using an interviewer-administered electronic questionnaire, and anthropometrics were measured following standard protocols. Incidence of fracture and osteoporosis was recorded via linkage with nationwide health insurance database. Linear and Cox regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: On average, men had higher SI (92.8 vs. 86.0) but lower T-score (−0.85 vs. −0.64) than women. In both men and women, advanced age and smoking were inversely associated with SI and T-score, while physical activity and tea drinking were positively so (p < 0.0001 for all). Except for height, all other anthropometric measures were significantly and positively associated with both BMD measures. With each SD lower SI, the risk of subsequent fracture was 26% (95% confidence interval: 10–44%) and 40% (25–57%) higher in men and women, and the corresponding associations of T-score were identical. Conclusions: Among Chinese adults, the SI and T-score provided by Achilles EXPII had similar patterns and predictive values for subsequent fracture, despite the T-score for men and women not being directly comparable because of gender-specific references used. Future studies are needed to confirm or refute the causality of relationship between lifestyle and anthropometric factors and BMD. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease, and its pathogenesis is complex. In addition to amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau, inflammation and microbial infections also play a role in the development of AD. Currently, there is no effective clinical intervention to cure AD or completely halt its progression. Blood transfusion, a critical life-saving medical procedure widely employed in modern healthcare, faces growing demand due to global population aging. However, whether blood transfusion could increase the risk of AD is still not clear. Aβ and tau play major roles in the pathogenesis of AD and may possess the potential for transmission through blood transfusion. Iron overload and chronic inflammation, which can independently influence AD pathogenesis, may result from repeated transfusions. Additionally, herpesvirus, known to accelerate AD progression, can also be potentially transmitted by blood transfusion. In this study, recent advances in the associations between blood transfusion and the occurrence and development of AD were reviewed, and whether blood transfusion could increase the risk of AD was discussed. Furthermore, the related proposals for blood management and future research were advanced to provide references for the prevention and control of AD. Full article

Fusarium verticillioides can systematically infect maize through seeds, triggering stalk rot and ear rot at a later stage, thus resulting in yield loss and quality decline. Seeds carrying F. verticillioides are unsuitable for storage and pose a serious threat to human and animal health due to the toxins released by the fungus. Previously, the candidate gene ZmC2GnT was identified, using linkage and association analysis, as potentially implicated in maize seed resistance to F. verticillioides; however, its disease resistance mechanism remained unknown. Our current study revealed that ZmC2GnT codes an N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, using sequence structure and evolutionary analysis. The candidate gene association analysis revealed multiple SNPs located in the UTRs and introns of ZmC2GnT. Cloning and comparing ZmC2GnT showed variations in the promoter and CDS of resistant and susceptible materials. The promoter of ZmC2GnT in the resistant parent contains one extra cis-element ABRE associated with the ABA signal, compared to the susceptible parent. Moreover, the amino acid sequence of ZmC2GnT in the resistant parent matches that of B73, but the susceptible parent contains ten amino acid alterations. The resistant material BT-1 and the susceptible material N6 were used as parents to observe the expression level of the ZmC2GnT. The results revealed that the expression of ZmC2GnT in disease-resistant maize seeds was significantly up-regulated after infection with F. verticillioides. After treatment with F. verticillioides or ABA, the expression activity of the ZmC2GnT promoter increased significantly in the resistant material, but no discernible difference was detected in the susceptible material. When ZmC2GnT from resistant and susceptible materials was overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana, the seeds’ resistance to F. verticillioides increased, although there was no significant difference between the two types of overexpressed plants. Our study revealed that ZmC2GnT could participate in the immune process of plants against pathogenic fungus. ZmC2GnT plays a significant role in regulating the disease-resistance process of maize seeds, laying the foundation for future research into the regulatory mechanism and the development of new disease-resistant maize varieties. Full article

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a widely adopted technique for bacterial and yeast identification in clinical laboratories but is less frequently applied to filamentous fungi due to inconsistent performance, limitations of commercial libraries, and variability of preparation methods. This study aimed to validate the efficiency of MALDI-TOF MS-based dermatophyte identification using the Bruker Biotyper system. Focusing on species from the Trichophyton, Nannizzia, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton genera, an in-house reference library was established and evaluated with clinical isolates. The expanded library, which combined the in-house and Bruker libraries, achieved significantly higher accuracy than the Bruker library alone, correctly identifying 90.7% (107/118) of isolates at the species level compared to 16.1% (19/118) by the Bruker library. This study presents an efficient, standardized MALDI-TOF MS protocol for routine dermatophyte identification and provides a review of the current status and influencing factors in MALDI-TOF MS-based dermatophyte identification strategies. Full article

The early Permian mafic–ultramafic intrusion-related Cu-Ni mineralization in Northern Tianshan offers valuable insights into the nature of the mantle beneath the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and enhances the understanding of magmatic sulfide mineralization processes in orogenic environments. The Yunhai intrusion, rich in Cu-Ni sulfides, marks a significant advancement for Cu-Ni exploration in the covered regions of the western Jueluotag orogenic belt in Northern Tianshan. This intrusion is well-differentiated, featuring a lithological assemblage of olivine pyroxenite, hornblende pyroxenite, gabbro, and diorite, and contains about 50 kilotons of sulfides with average grades of 0.44 wt% Ni and 0.62 wt% Cu. Sulfide mineralization occurs predominantly as concordant layers or lenses of sparsely and densely disseminated sulfides within the olivine pyroxenite and hornblende pyroxenite. In situ zircon U-Pb dating for the Yunhai intrusion indicates crystallization ages between 288 ± 1 and 284 ± 1 Ma, aligning with several Cu-Ni mineralization-associated mafic–ultramafic intrusions in Northern Tianshan. Samples from the Yunhai intrusion exhibit enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE), distinct negative Nb and Ta anomalies, positive ε_Nd(t) values ranging from 2.75 to 6.56, low initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios between 0.7034 and 0.7053, and positive ε_Hf(t) values from 9.27 to 15.9. These characteristics, coupled with low Ce/Pb (0.77–6.55) and Nb/U (5.47–12.0) ratios and high Ti/Zr values (38.7–102), suggest very restricted amounts (ca. 5%) of crustal assimilation. The high Rb/Y (0.35–4.27) and Th/Zr (0.01–0.03) ratios and low Sm/Yb (1.47–2.32) and La/Yb (3.10–7.52) ratios imply that the primary magma of the Yunhai intrusion likely originated from 2%–10% partial melting of weak slab fluids–metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle (peridotite with 2% spinel and/or 1% garnet) in a post-collisional environment. The ΣPGE levels in the Yunhai rocks and sulfide-bearing ores range from 0.50 to 54.4 ppb, which are lower compared to PGE-undepleted Ni-Cu sulfide deposits. This PGE depletion in the Yunhai intrusion’s parental magma may have been caused by early sulfide segregation from the primary magma at depth due to the high Cu/Pd ratios (43.5 × 10³ to 2353 × 10³) of all samples. The fractional crystallization of minerals such as olivine and pyroxene might be a critical factor in provoking significant sulfide segregation at shallower levels, leading to the extensive disseminated Cu-Ni mineralization at Yunhai. These characteristics are similar to those of typical deposits in the eastern section of the Jueluotage orogenic belt (JLOB), which may indicate that the western and eastern sections of the belt have the same ore-forming potential. Full article

Nucleic acid aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that are selected through exponential enrichment (SELEX) technology from synthetic DNA/RNA libraries. These aptamers can specifically recognize and bind to target molecules, serving as specific recognition elements. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an ultra-sensitive, non-destructive analytical technique that can rapidly acquire the “fingerprint information” of the measured molecules. It has been widely applied in qualitative and trace analysis across various fields, including food safety, environmental monitoring, and biomedical applications. Small molecules, such as toxins, antibiotics, and pesticides, have significant biological effects and are harmful to both human health and the environment. In this paper, we mainly introduced the application and the research progress of SERS detection with aptamers (aptamer-based SERS techniques) in the field of small-molecule detection, particularly in the analysis of pesticide (animal) residues, antibiotics, and toxins. And the progress and prospect of combining the two methods in detection were reviewed. Full article

The accurate and efficient detection of printed circuit board (PCB) surface defects is crucial to the electronic information manufacturing industry. However, current approaches to PCB defect detection face challenges, including large model sizes and difficulties in balancing detection accuracy with speed. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a novel PCB surface defect detection algorithm, named DVCW-YOLO. First, all standard convolutions in the backbone and neck networks of YOLOv8n are replaced with lightweight DWConv convolutions. In addition, a self-designed C2fCBAM module is introduced to the backbone network for extracting features. Next, within the neck structure, the C2f module is substituted with the more lightweight VOVGSCSP module, thereby reducing model redundancy, simplifying model complexity, and enhancing detection speed. By enhancing prominent features and suppressing less important ones, this modification allows the model to better focus on key regions, thereby improving feature representation capabilities. Finally, the WIoU loss function is implemented to replace the traditional CIoU function in YOLOv8n. This adjustment addresses issues related to low generalization and poor detection performance for small objects or complex backgrounds, while also mitigating the impact of low-quality or extreme samples on model accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that the DVCW-YOLO model achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 99.3% and a detection speed of 43.3 frames per second (FPS), which represent improvements of 4% and 4.08%, respectively, over the YOLOv8n model. These results confirm that the proposed model meets the real-time PCB defect detection requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises. Full article