Search Results (34)

Population ageing is revealing acute mismatches between inherited village layouts and older residents’ everyday needs in China’s peri-urban fringe. This study combines space-syntax diagnostics with an exploratory factor analysis to create a building-oriented retrofit workflow. Using Liulin Village, Beijing, as a test bed, axial-line modelling pinpoints the low-integration alleys and mono-functional retail strips, while elder-user surveys distil four latent demand factors, led by personal convenience. Overlaying these two layers highlights the “high-demand/low-fit” segments for intervention. Prefabricated 3 m × 6 m health kiosks, sunrooms and rest pergolas—constructed from light-gauge steel frames and assembled with dry joints—are then inserted along a newly permeated corridor–core walking loop. The modules follow a 600 mm dimensional grid and can be installed or removed within a single working day, cutting the on-site labour by roughly one-third relative to that required for conventional masonry kiosks and enabling their future relocation or reuse. The workflow shows how small-scale, low-carbon building interventions can simultaneously improve accessibility, social interaction and functional diversity, providing a transferable template for ageing-responsive public-space retrofits in rapidly transforming village contexts. Full article

Background: The use of in-feed antibiotics was banned in numerous countries within the animal production industry as a result of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the presence of residual antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect host bacterial cells, are considered the natural predators of bacteria. Over the past two decades, bacteriophages have garnered increasing attention for their potential in controlling pathogenic bacteria in weaned piglets. Aims: The aim of this overview was to update the progress of bacteriophage application in weaned piglets. Methods: For the section on bacteriophage application in weaned piglets, a systematic search was performed to identify relevant articles published before June 2025 in databases such as Web of Science. Results: In this review, we provide a brief overview of bacteriophages, followed by a summary of the isolation of specific bacteriophages in weaned piglets. In addition, we have summarized the application progress of bacteriophages in weaned piglets, including the effects of oral administration or dietary supplementation with bacteriophages on growth performance, diarrhea characteristics, intestinal morphology, intestinal pH, nutrient digestibility, inflammatory response, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal microecology. Conclusions: This updated overview novelly highlights the potential of bacteriophages as anti-pathogenic agents in mitigating infections caused by pathogenic bacteria in weaned piglets. This review could provide a scientific basis for controlling pathogenic bacteria infections in weaned piglets in the post-antibiotic era. Full article

Identifying the specific factors secreted during early pregnancy is an effective method for pregnancy detection in cattle, helping to reduce empty pregnancies in the industry. To systematically investigate metabolic variations between early pregnancy and the estrous cycle and their relationship with pregnancy progression, this study utilized four-dimensional data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomics and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics to analyze serum samples collected from Chinese native yellow cattle at day 0 and day 21 post-mating, combining bioinformatics analysis with experimental validation. The platelet activation signaling pathway and angiogenesis-related proteins were significantly upregulated. Among them, fibrinogen alpha/beta/gamma chains (FG) exhibited notable differences, with their branched-chain protein FGB showing highly significant upregulation (p = 0.003, Log₂FC = 2.167) and tending to increase gradually during early pregnancy, suggesting that FGB could be one of the important indicators of early pregnancy in Chinese native yellow cattle. Among the differential metabolites, 11-Deoxy prostaglandin F1α (p < 0.001, Log₂FC = 1.563), Thromboxane B1 (p = 0.002, Log₂FC = 3.335), and Homo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid (C20:3) (p = 0.018, Log₂FC = 1.781) were also increased, indicating their involvement in the regulation of the platelet activation signaling pathway. The platelet activation signaling pathway plays a crucial role in maternal immune tolerance and placental vascularization, which are essential for embryo implantation and placental development. These findings indicate that FGB has the potential to be a valuable biomarker for early cattle pregnancy detection, thereby improving pregnancy diagnosis accuracy, reducing economic losses caused by undetected empty pregnancies and enhancing reproductive efficiency in the cattle industry. Undoubtedly, our research outcomes must be validated with future studies, and a larger sample size as well as the evaluation of the potential endocrine effects induced by the synchronized estrus treatment must be considered. Full article

As a novel industrial space to cope with global competition, industrial parks have gradually become important growth poles to promote regional development and provide a large number of employment opportunities. This study utilizes mobile phone signaling data to identify the commuting origins and destinations (OD) of different industrial parks in Nanjing while comparing the distribution of the working population, residential population, and commuting patterns across varying types and levels of industrial parks. The level of coordination of the employment–residential system in each park is quantified by calculating the resident commuting index (HSC_i), employee commuting index (WSC_i), and their coupling coordination degree. Additionally, geographic detectors are employed to identify the influencing factors and interaction effects that impact the employment–residential balance in industrial parks. Results show that industrial parks located in the central urban area attract more residential and working populations. The commuting volume of national and municipal as well as high-tech industrial parks is higher than other types of industrial parks. Most industrial parks experience more inward than outward commuting, and there is an uneven distribution of commuting flows, resulting in a network-like pattern of “central dense, peripheral sparse”. Various industrial parks exhibit a highly coupled job–housing system, and those with high HSC_i tend to have high WSC_i as well. The coupling coordination of industrial parks ranged from 0.16 to 0.93, with 13 being primary coordination or above and 3 being disordered. Industrial parks are classified into three types: employment-oriented, residential-oriented, and employment–residential balanced, with the residential-oriented type being predominant. The density of public transportation stops, park area, and land use mix are the primary factors affecting the employment–residential balance. Industrial parks with larger scale, better land allocation, and higher service facility levels are more likely to achieve coordination in the employment–residential system. Our work utilizes mobile signaling data to characterize the commuting patterns of industrial parks, providing insights for industrial park planning and promoting the integration of industry and city. Full article

Low fertility is the main cause of the low productivity in beef cattle and is mainly associated with a lack of conception after fertilization. The establishment of early pregnancy in cattle is a complex physiological process, and embryo implantation is crucial for the successful establishment of pregnancy. Exosomal miRNAs play an important role in regulating mammalian embryo implantation and development. This study used synchronous estrus technology to extract exosomes from bovine serum at 0, 14, and 21 days of early pregnancy and analyzed the expression profile of exosomal miRNAs through RNA-seq technology. We identified 472 miRNA precursor sequences and 367 mature miRNA sequences in the three sample groups, with the majority of the miRNAs having high abundance. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were screened, and 20 DEmiRNAs were obtained. The differential expression analysis results show that compared to day 0, there were 15 DEmiRNAs in the serum on day 14 and 5 on day 21 of pregnancy. Compared to the 14th day of pregnancy, there were eight DEmiRNAs in the serum on the 21st day of pregnancy. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the target genes of DEmiRNAs regulated the signaling pathways closely related to early pregnancy, including the VEGF, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, the newly discovered miRNAs were bta-miR-3604, bta-miR-2889, bta-miR-3432a, and bta-miR-409b. These results provide a theoretical reference for screening the molecular markers for early pregnancy establishment and maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in cattle and new ideas for shortening the calving interval in cows. Full article

The antioxidant and immune systems of weaned piglets are not fully mature and are also subjected to serious stress challenges related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Selenium (Se) is an essential element for pigs, with documented roles encompassing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties via selenoproteins. Sodium selenite and Se-enriched yeast are commonly acknowledged as conventional sources of Se for piglets. In the past decade, several novel Se sources have emerged in the field of weaned piglet nutrition. In this review, we will initially outline the historical timeline of Se sources as reported in weaned piglet nutrition. Afterwards, our attention will turn towards the nutritional regulation of Se sources in relation to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory aspects of healthy weaned piglets. Ultimately, we will provide a detailed review highlighting the potential of emerging Se sources in alleviating various adverse effects of stress challenges faced by weaned piglets. These challenges include oxidative stress, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection, lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, heat stress, and exposure to feed mycotoxins. The output of this review will emphasize the fundamental importance of incorporating emerging Se sources in the diet of weaned piglets. Full article

The bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] is often utilized as a rootstock for watermelon grafting. This practice effectively mitigates the challenges associated with continuous cropping obstacles in watermelon cultivation. The lower ground temperature has a direct impact on the rootstocks’ root development and nutrient absorption, ultimately leading to slower growth and even the onset of yellowing. However, the mechanisms underlying the bottle gourd’s regulation of root growth in response to low root zone temperature (LRT) remain elusive. Understanding the dynamic response of bottle gourd roots to LRT stress is crucial for advancing research regarding its tolerance to low temperatures. In this study, we compared the physiological traits of bottle gourd roots under control and LRT treatments; root sample transcriptomic profiles were monitored after 0 h, 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment. LRT stress increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte permeability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, especially H₂O₂ and O²⁻. Concurrently, LRT treatment enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). RNA-Seq analysis revealed the presence of 2507 and 1326 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 48 h and 72 h of LRT treatment, respectively. Notably, 174 and 271 transcription factors (TFs) were identified as DEGs compared to the 0 h control. We utilized quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm the expression patterns of DEGs belonging to the WRKY, NAC, bHLH, AP2/ERF and MYB families. Collectively, our study provides a robust foundation for the functional characterization of LRT-responsive TFs in bottle gourd roots. Furthermore, these insights may contribute to the enhancement in cold tolerance in bottle gourd-type rootstocks, thereby advancing molecular breeding efforts. Full article

The Baiyun gold deposit is a medium-sized deposit in northeastern Hubei around the southern margin of the Tongbai-Dabie metallogenic belt. However, its genesis has not been determined. The metallogenic process of the Baiyun gold deposit can be divided into three stages: quartz + feldspar, quartz + native gold + electrum + polymetallic sulfides, and quartz + pyrite + calcite + iron dolomite + illite. In this study, LA-ICP-MS was used for in situ trace element and isotope analyses in the main and late ore stage hydrothermal sulfides to evaluate the genesis and evolution of ore-forming fluids. Gold is positively correlated with Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Te and the Co/Ni ratio is greater than 1. The S isotope values of Py1 and Py2 are −0.23–3.04‰ and 1.27–6.09‰, respectively. As mineralization progressed, S isotope values increased. In situ S isotope values of the two types of galena symbiotic with pyrite in the main metallogenic stage are 2.97–3.47‰. In situ Fe isotopic values of pyrite are −0.05–0.82‰; values in the two stages are similar without significant fractionation. We inferred that the Baiyun gold deposit formed via magmatic mineralization related to the subduction of the Pacific Plate during the Yanshanian. Full article

Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the effects of Sm substitution, wheel speed, and annealing temperature on the phase formation and magnetic properties of (Y_1−xSm_x)Co₅ (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) melt-spun ribbons were investigated. The results indicate the following: (1) With the increase in Sm substitution, it was found that (Y_1−xSm_x)Co₅ ribbons are entirely composed of the (Y-Sm)Co₅ phase with a CaCu₅-type structure. Additionally, the coercivity gradually increases, while the remanence and saturation magnetization gradually decrease. (2) As the wheel speed increases, the (Y_1−xSm_x)Co₅ ribbons exhibit an increasing proportion of (Y-Sm)Co₅ phase until reaching a speed of 40 m/s, where they are entirely composed of the (Y-Sm)Co₅ phase. Magnetic measurements show that the coercivity (H_cj) and remanence (B_r) of (Y_0.5Sm_0.5)Co₅ ribbons increase gradually with increasing wheel speed, while saturation magnetization decreases. The variation in magnetic properties is mainly attributed to the formation of nucleation centers for reversed magnetic domain (2:7 and 2:17 phases); (3) (Y_0.5Sm_0.5)Co₅ ribbons are composed of the (Y-Sm)Co₅ phase and a small amount of the Sm₂Co₇ phase after annealing at 550 °C, 600 °C, and 650 °C. Temperature elevation promotes crystallization of the amorphous phase, resulting in a gradual decrease in coercivity, while the remanence and saturation magnetization exhibit an overall increasing trend. Through continuous optimization of the process, favorable magnetic properties were achieved under the conditions of a 0.5 Sm substitution level, a wheel speed of 40 m/s, and an annealing temperature of 550 °C, with a coercivity of 7.98 kOe, remanence of 444 kA/m, and saturation magnetization of 508 kA/m. Full article

Quantitative determination of the critical size of an inclined coal pillar in an old goaf water-affected area is of great significance for water damage prevention and safe mining. The critical size of the inclined waterproof coal pillar is derived by using mechanical analyses, numerical calculations, and field engineering practices to determine the stability of the waterproof coal pillar in the old goaf water-affected area of the 1303 working face of Dananhu No. 1 Mine in the Xinjiang region. Firstly, a force model of the inclined waterproof coal pillar was established to reveal the law that the critical size of the coal pillar increases with the increase in coal seam inclination under the action of asymmetric load. Then, numerical simulation was applied to reveal the dynamic evolution processes of plastic deformation–destabilization of the coal pillar under the influence of mining and single-side water pressure, and the critical size of the coal pillar in the study area was determined to be 19.09 m. Finally, measures such as pumping pressure relief and slurry reinforcement were adopted to reduce the deformation rate of the roadway on the side of the coal pillar, which ensured the stability of the waterproof coal pillar and the safe mining of the working face. Full article

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a zoonotic pathogen with a global distribution, which causes serious diseases in both humans and animals and economic losses in the swine industry. As antibiotic resistance increases, there is an urgent imperative to explore novel antibacterial alternatives. In the present study, we selected the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a candidate drug to treat S. suis infections. The results showed that various pathogens, especially S. suis, are more sensitive to 5-FU. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of 5-FU is relatively low. Extensive in vitro assays demonstrated the pronounced bacteriostatic and bactericidal efficacy of 5-FU against susceptible and multidrug-resistant S. suis strains. Its mechanisms of action include damage to the bacterial cell walls and membranes, resulting in the leakage of intracellular components, and the inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS), leading to a depletion of deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) pools, ultimately causing thymine-less death and lethal DNA damage in bacteria. Gene-knockout experiments further showed that 5-FU played a role by inhibiting the thyA gene-encoding thymidine synthase. Finally, we determined that S. suis infections can be alleviated by 5-FU in the mouse infection model. This study emphasizes the antibacterial potential of 5-FU against S. suis and provides evidence for its targeting of bacterial membrane damage and DNA damage. In summary, 5-FU can control S. suis infection and is expected to become a new alternative to antibiotics. Full article

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are pivotal transcription factors involved in many aspects of auxin-dependent developmental processes. While functions of ARFs have been extensively studied in Arabidopsis, their distinct role in cucumber remains unclear. In this study, a cucumber auxin response factor homolog, CsARF10a, was cloned and overexpressed in tomato plants. RT-qPCR analysis indicated that the expression abundance of CsARF10a was significantly decreased in cucumber leaves and female flowers, and the expression level of CsARF10a was relatively low in pollinated fruits and hormone-treated fruits compared with that in unpollinated fruits. Moreover, the overexpression of CsARF10a in tomato resulted in multiple phenotypic changes, including a wider leaf blade, delayed fruit ripening, and parthenocarpic fruit set in CsARF10a-OE lines. Taken together, our research shed light on the regulatory importance of CsARF10a in regulating various phenotype alterations and laid a solid foundation for further functional studies. Full article

The process of graphene growth by CVD involves a series of complex gas-phase surface chemical reactions, which generally go through three processes, including gas phase decomposition, surface chemical reaction, and gas phase diffusion. The complexity of the CVD process for growing graphene is that it involves not only chemical reactions but also mass, momentum, and energy transfer. To solve these problems, the method of numerical simulation combined with the reactor structure optimization model provides a good tool for industrial production and theoretical research to explore the influencing factors of the CVD growth of graphene. The objective of this study was to establish a simplified reaction model for the growth of graphene by chemical vapor deposition(CVD) in a vertical rotating disk reactor (VRD). From a macroscopic modeling perspective, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to investigate the conditions for the growth of graphene by chemical vapor deposition in a high-speed rotating vertical disk reactor on a copper substrate surface at atmospheric pressure (101,325 Pa). The effects of gas temperature, air inlet velocity, base rotation speed, and material ratio on the surface deposition rate of graphene in a VRD reactor were studied, and the technological conditions for the preparation of graphene via the CVD method in a VRD reactor based on a special structure were explored. Compared with existing models, the numerical results showed the following: the ideal growth conditions of graphene prepared using a CVD method in a VRD reactor involve a growth temperature of 1310 K, an intake speed of 470 mL/min, a base speed of 300 rpm, and an H₂ flow rate of 75 sccm; thus, more uniform graphene with a better surface density and higher quality can be obtained. The effect of the carbon surface deposition rate on the growth behavior of graphene was studied using molecular dynamics (MD) from a microscopic perspective. The simulation showed that the graphene surface deposition rate could control the nucleation density of graphene. The combination of macro- and microsimulation methods was used to provide a theoretical reference for the production of graphene. Full article

Bimetallic Pd-based catalysts for formic acid oxidation (FAO) are one of the most promising anode materials for the next generation of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC). It is imperative to develop a simple strategy for preparing efficient, stable, and clean nanoparticle catalysts. Herein, we prepared a series of Pd, PdNi, and PdCo nanoparticle catalysts using the nanoparticle beam composite deposition system, which revealed good catalytic activity and stability in the process of FAO. The incorporation of Ni or Co prevents the adsorption of active intermediates and the accumulation of toxic intermediates in the process of FAO. Therefore, more Pd active centers can be used to decompose formic acid directly by dehydrogenation. The results indicate that PdNi-2 (Pd_0.9Ni_0.1) and PdCo-3 (Pd_0.89Co_0.11) catalysts exhibit the optimal catalytic performance, with the mass activity of 1491.5 A g⁻¹_Pd and 1401.7 A g⁻¹_Pd, respectively, which is 2.1 and 2 times that of the pure Pd sample. By optimizing the rate of Pd to transition metal M (Ni, Co), a high-performance Pd-based catalyst was obtained through their synergistic effect, which provides a new approach for designing efficient anode catalysts for DFAFCs. Full article

Li metal has been considered an ideal anode in lithium batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 3860 mAh·g⁻¹ and lowest negative reduction potential of −3.040 V among the standard hydrogen electrodes. However, lithium dendrites can easily grow on the surface of the negative electrode during charging, which results in a short circuit of the battery and reduces its efficiency. This paper investigated dendrite growth and inhibition mechanisms in lithium metal batteries to improve battery life. The impacts of the initial nucleation spacing, surface energy anisotropy strength, and interfacial electrochemical driving force on lithium dendrite growth were analyzed with electrochemical experiments and mathematical models. The results showed that the smaller nucleation spacing inhibits the growth of dendrite side branches and reduces the roughness of lithium metal deposition on the negative electrode. A lower interfacial energy anisotropy strength can slow down the growth of dendrite tips and improve the dendrite growth structure. The growth of the dendrites is influenced by the interfacial electrochemical driving force. Reducing the nucleation overpotential can effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites. Full article