Search Results (248)

Against the backdrop of advancing ecological civilization and increasing public interest in reconnecting with nature, this study examines fireflies—iconic insects cherished for their natural charm—as valuable landscape resources. This study was conducted in Dalingshan Forest Park, Dongguan (Pearl River Delta), using the Forest Science Trail as a sampling site. Surveys combining line transect and point count methods were employed to analyze firefly species composition, adult activity patterns, and flight characteristics. Key findings include: (1) Four species were identified—Asymmetricata circumdata, Pygoluciola qingyu, Aquatica analis, and Luciola satoi—three of which were observed along the trail; (2) Adults appeared sporadically after 19:00, with peak activity occurring between 19:30 and 20:00, showing minor interspecific variation; (3) Although flight height varied slightly among species, most activities concentrated within 0–1.5 m, corresponding to herbaceous and shrub layers; (4) Distinct flight patterns were observed: A. circumdata displayed prolonged intermittent flights, while P. qingyu and L. satoi exhibited shorter perching-based flights. These results provide a scientific basis for firefly habitat conservation, biodiversity promotion, and the sustainable integration of firefly landscapes into nature education and ecotourism. Full article

We investigate the charmed meson spectrum using a constituent quark model (CQM) with one-loop corrections applied to the one-gluon exchange (OGE) potential. The study aims to understand if the modified version of our CQM sufficiently account for the charmed meson spectrum observed experimentally, without invoking exotic quark and gluon configurations such as hybrid mesons or tetraquarks. Within this model, charmed mesons’ masses are computed, comparing theoretical predictions to experimental data. The results, within uncertainties, suggest that our theoretical framework generally reproduces mass splittings and level ordering observed for charmed mesons. Particularly, large discrepancies between theory and experiment found in P-wave states are, at least, significantly ameliorated by incorporating higher-order interaction terms. Therefore, the findings emphasize that while the traditional quark model is limited in fully describing charmed mesons, enhanced potential terms may bridge the gap with experimental observations. The study contributes a framework for predicting excited charmed meson states for future experimental validation. Full article

Estimated population growth and increased demand for food production bring with them the evident need for more efficient and sustainable production systems. Because of this, computer vision plays a fundamental role in the development and application of solutions that help producers with the issues that limit livestock production in Brazil and the world. In addition to being stressful for the producer and the animal, the conventional pig weighing system causes productive losses and can compromise meat quality, being considered a practice that does not value animal welfare. The objective was to develop a computational procedure to predict the live weight of pigs in the growth and finishing phases, through the volume of the animals extracted through the processing of 3D images, as well as to analyze the real and estimated biometric measurements to define the relationships of these with live weight and volume obtained. The study was conducted at Roçadinho farm, in the municipality of Capoeiras, located in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The variables weight and 3D images were obtained using a Kinect^®—V2 camera and biometric measurements of 20 animals in the growth phase and 24 animals in the finishing phase, males and females, from the crossing of Pietrain and Large White, totaling 44 animals. To analyze the images, a program developed in Python (PyCharm Community Edition 2020.1.4) was used, to relate the variables, principal component analyses and regression analyzes were performed. The coefficient of linear determination between weight and volume was 73.3, 74.1, and 97.3% for pigs in the growing, finishing, and global phases, showing that this relationship is positive and satisfactorily expressed the weight of the animals. The relationship between the real and estimated biometric variables had a more expressive coefficient of determination in the global phase, having presented values between 77 and 94%. Full article

The production rate of charm quarks in strongly interacting matter is investigated under various conditions, employing the effective quasiparticle framework. This phenomenological approach treats quarks and gluons as quasiparticles with dynamically generated self-energies linked to the medium. This paper studies thermal production of charm quarks in hot deconfined matter when those quarks are treated as impurities with a constant mass or as dynamical quarks dressed by the effective mass. When charm quarks are considered quasiparticles, their large (compared to the bare value) mass generates a significant decrease in the production rate in the crossover region. Various initial conditions for the evolution of the system are applied, showing that lower initial temperature leads to the continual suppression of the charm quark production rate, which appears in line with the previously reported estimate at certain values of the initial parameters. Full article

This study investigates the aroma differences among various peach and nectarine varieties by sensory evaluation, electronic nose (E-nose) analysis, and metabolomics. Peach is a significant fruit crop in China, and identifying unique fragrances is essential for germplasm selection and cultivar improvement. Six peach and nectarine varieties were collected from the National Peach Germplasm Repository in Nanjing, China. Sensory evaluation revealed significant differences in aroma and taste, with ”Zi Jin Hong 3” and “Bai Mi Pan Tao” showing high scores for aroma, sweetness, and overall sensory quality, while “Tachibanawase” had the lowest overall impression score. E-nose analysis showed distinct response values among varieties, with sensors W1S, W1W, and W5S exhibiting the highest sensitivity. GC-MS identified 446 metabolites, including esters and terpenes. PCA and OPLS-DA differentiated metabolite profiles among varieties, revealing significant differences in metabolite expression. The integration of these techniques provides a comprehensive understanding of aroma differences, highlighting the potential for identifying unique germplasms for breeding high-quality cultivars with charming flavor, and offering a theoretical foundation for raw material selection and process optimization in the deep-processing industry of peach fruits in future research. Full article

Trauma often causes long-lasting functional impairment, but the extent varies across populations. This study investigated disability six months after moderate to severe injury and identified sociodemographic and early injury-related predictors, including estimated rehabilitation complexity. Further, we assessed the implementation of direct transfer from acute care in the trauma centre to specialised inpatient rehabilitation, bypassing local hospitals. In this prospective study 398 adults, treated from January 2020 to January 2021 at two Norwegian trauma centres, were included. Self-reported disability was measured using the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to identify predictors of the 6-month disability outcome. At follow-up, 22% reported no disability, 49% mild/moderate and 29% severe. In multivariable analyses, low education, comorbidities, number of injuries and higher estimated rehabilitation complexity at discharge from acute care were significantly associated with greater disability. Only 20% were transferred directly to specialised inpatient rehabilitation, while 17% went via local hospitals. Participants with orthopaedic injuries and women were less likely to be transferred directly. In summary, most participants experienced some disability at 6 months. Indirect pathways to specialised rehabilitation via local hospitals remained common. Understanding predictors of disability and optimising rehabilitation pathways may improve trauma rehabilitation outcomes, highlighting the need for guidelines that identify patients with high rehabilitation needs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Renal cancer has a heterogeneous characteristic. Prognostic models can enable a better evaluation of the prognosis. This study aimed to analyze the clinical applicability and risk of bias of prognostic models described in the literature for predicting cancer-specific mortality in renal cancer patients who have undergone nephrectomy. Methods: A systematic review (PROSPERO [CRD42021243529]) of all scientific articles that evaluate prognostic models for cancer-specific mortality due to renal cancer was performed. Descriptive analysis and application of the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS) and the Prediction Model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) were used. Results: Most of the 40 reviewed studies used retrospective cohort designs, mainly based on hospital records or the SEER database, and focused on patients undergoing nephrectomy. While 50% developed models without validation, the rest included internal or external validation methods, with nomograms being the most common format for presenting results. Cox regression was the main modeling technique, although problems such as poor treatment of missing data, inadequate reporting of events per variable, and limited assessment of model assumptions were prevalent. According to the PROBAST assessment, all studies showed a high risk of bias, particularly in the scope of analysis, and only 40% had good applicability. Conclusions: All the studies analyzed were found to have a high risk of bias, and only 40% demonstrated good applicability. Hence, it is necessary to develop cancer-specific prognostic models for renal cancer based on the CHARMS and PROBAST frameworks. Full article

We review our recent findings on the structure and properties of exotic heavy hadrons, focusing on two main topics. First, we examine the role of correlations driven by the short-range Coulomb-like color interaction in hidden heavy-flavor pentaquarks. We show how this framework consistently accounts for the observed pattern of $P_c$ and $P_{cs}$ states in the hidden-charm sector and enables predictions for the hidden-bottom sector, where experimental data are still lacking. The second topic explores the possibility of forming stable multihadron molecules from deeply bound two-hadron exotic states. In this context, a bound state of three B mesons, denoted as $T_{bbb}$, with quantum numbers $\left(I\right)J^P=(1/2)2^{-}$, is presented. We find that the binding energy generally decreases as the number of hadrons increases, primarily due to effects of the Pauli principle and the appearance of new decay thresholds. Nonetheless, resonances may still arise in specific cases, depending on the internal thresholds of the system. Finally, we discuss how the decay width of an exotic multihadron resonance can offer valuable insights into its internal structure and underlying dynamics. Full article

Aiming to address the problems of asynchronous acquisition time of multiple sensors in the crop phenotype acquisition system and high cost of the acquisition equipment, this paper developed a low-cost crop phenotype synchronous acquisition system based on the PTP synchronization protocol, realizing the synchronous acquisition of three types of crop data: visible light images, thermal infrared images, and laser point clouds. The paper innovatively proposed the Difference Structural Similarity Index Measure (DSSIM) index, combined with statistical indicators (average point number difference, average coordinate error), distribution characteristic indicators (Charm distance), and Hausdorff distance to characterize the stability of the system. After 72 consecutive hours of synchronization testing on the timing boards, it was verified that the root mean square error of the synchronization time for each timing board reached the ns level. The synchronous trigger acquisition time for crop parameters under time synchronization was controlled at the microsecond level. Using pepper as the crop sample, 133 consecutive acquisitions were conducted. The acquisition success rate for the three phenotypic data types of pepper samples was 100%, with a DSSIM of approximately 0.96. The average point number difference and average coordinate error were both about 3%, while the Charm distance and Hausdorff distance were only 1.14 mm and 5 mm. This system can provide hardware support for multi-parameter acquisition and data registration in the fast mobile crop phenotype platform, laying a reliable data foundation for crop growth monitoring, intelligent yield analysis, and prediction. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the last few decades, the dengue virus, a prevalent flavivirus, has demonstrated various epidemiological, economic, and health impacts around the world. Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) plays a vital role in dengue-associated mortality. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of DENV2 is a charming druggable target owing to its crucial function in viral reproduction. In recent years, streptomycetes natural products (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as a potential source of antiviral drugs. Methods: Seeking prospective inhibitors that inhibit the DENV2 RdRp allosteric site, in silico mining of the Streptome database was executed. AutoDock4.2.6 software performance in predicting docking poses of the inspected inhibitors was initially conducted according to existing experimental data. Upon the assessed docking parameters, the Streptome database was virtually screened against DENV2 RdRp allosteric site. The streptomycetes NPs with docking scores less than the positive control (68T; calc. −35.6 kJ.mol⁻¹) were advanced for molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), and their binding affinities were computed by employing the MM/GBSA approach. Results: SDB9818 and SDB4806 unveiled superior inhibitor activities against DENV2 RdRp upon MM/GBSA//300 ns MDS than 68T with ΔG_binding values of −246.4, −242.3, and −150.6 kJ.mol⁻¹, respectively. A great consistency was found in both the energetic and structural analyses of the identified inhibitors within the DENV2 RdRp allosteric site. Furthermore, the physicochemical characteristics of the identified inhibitors demonstrated good oral bioavailability. Eventually, quantum mechanical computations were carried out to evaluate the chemical reactivity of the identified inhibitors. Conclusions: As determined by in silico computations, the identified streptomycetes NPs may act as DENV2 RdRp allosteric inhibitors and mandate further experimental assays. Full article

The work Xingli zhenquan tigang (Sing lii jen ciyan bithei hešen) was written in Chinese and Manchu by the French Jesuit Alexandre de la Charme (1695–1767) and published in Beijing in 1753. The first two sections of this paper provide an introduction to de la Charme’s work biography and to further textual and historical contexts, explore the peculiarities of the subsequent early German reception of the work almost 90 years later, and introduce the content from an overview perspective. The third section explores the most essential contents of Book 1 (of 3) of the Manchu version. The investigation is based on Hans Conon von der Gabelentz’s (1807–1874) German translation from 1840. Camouflaged as a Confucian educational dialogue, and by blurring his true identity in his publication, de la Charme criticizes Neo-Confucian positions from an implicitly Cartesian and hidden Christian perspective, tacitly blending Cartesian views with traditional Chinese concepts. In addition, he alludes to Manchu shamanic views in the same regard. De la Charme’s assimilating rhetoric “triangulation” of three different cultural and linguistic horizons of thought and spirituality proves that later Jesuit scholarship reached out into the inherent ethnic and spiritual diversity of the Qing intellectual and political elites. Hidden allusions to Descartes’s dualistic concepts of res cogitans and res extensa implicitly anticipate the beginnings of China’s intellectual modernization period one and a half centuries later. This work also provides an example of how the exchange of intellectual and religious elements persisted despite the Rites Controversy and demonstrates how the fading Jesuit mission influenced early German sinology. I believe that this previously underexplored work is significant in both systematic and historical respects. It is particularly relevant in the context of current comparative research fields, as well as transcultural and interreligious intellectual dialogue in East Asia and around the world. Full article

Background: Traumatic injuries often lead to long-lasting impairments and complex rehabilitation needs. Trauma patients report lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased needs for healthcare and social support. This study aimed to describe HRQoL trajectories in a Norwegian cohort with moderate-to-severe trauma over 12 months and assess the relationship between unmet needs and HRQoL. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study with follow-up at six and twelve months post-injury included adults aged 18+ with a New Injury Severity Score (NISS) > 9 and a minimum hospital stay of two days. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L. Needs and unmet needs were evaluated using the Needs and Provision Complexity Scale. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) examined predictors of HRQoL trajectories. Results: Of 538 participants, 83% were followed up at six and/or twelve months. Mean age was 52 years, falls were the most common cause of injury (44%), and 76% had a severe injury (NISS > 15). HRQoL remained stable, except for improvements in usual activities and anxiety-depression domains. HLM showed that older age (b = −2.698), longer hospital stay (b = −4.108), and unmet healthcare (b = −1.094) and social support needs (b = −3.132) were associated with worse HRQoL over time. Unmet personal care needs were linked to improved HRQoL (b = 2.654). The only significant predictor*time interaction was between unmet healthcare needs and overall HRQoL. Conclusions: HRQoL largely remained stable, with improvements in some domains. Unmet healthcare needs predicted a decline in HRQoL, highlighting the importance of timely support and targeted interventions from health professionals. Full article

Background: Dental professionals were thought to have the most significant risk of coronavirus infection during the pandemic. Since the first Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient was detected in Japan in January 2020, Japan has faced several waves of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. However, no cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with dental procedures has been reported in Japan. In this study, we aimed to investigate the actual status of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pandemic through antibody testing for dental professionals. We further investigated saliva and oral management-related aerosol to estimate the risk of virus transmission during dental procedures. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer in the blood of dental professionals and their families was determined during the pre-vaccinated period of the SARS-CoV-2 wave to see the history of infection in Japan. Viral loads in saliva and in the aerosol generated during the oral management of COVID-19 patients were detected by RT-qPCR. Results: The antibody testing of dental healthcare providers during the early phases of the pandemic in Japan revealed low antibody positivity, which supported the low incidence of infection clusters among dental clinics. The aerosol generated during dental procedures may contain trace levels of SARS-CoV-2, indicating the risk of transmission through dental procedures is limited. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 did not spread through dental clinics. Conclusions: Very few SARS-CoV-2 infections were observed in dental professionals who took appropriate infection control measures in the early period of the pandemic. Performing dental procedures using standard precautions seems to be sufficient to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections. Full article

Incited by the scant understanding of unsettled charmonia and newly observed $cc\bar{c}\bar{c}$ tetraquarks, this work aims to explore the canonical interpretations and spectroscopic properties of these fully hidden-charm states. In the framework of a relativistic flux tube model, the centroid masses of the low-lying $nL$-wave states with $1\le n+L\le 4$ are unraveled. In order to pin down the complete mass spectra, the hyperfine splittings induced by the spin-dependent interactions are incorporated into the final predictions. Accordingly, fourteen charmonia are well identified, including the ${\eta }_c\left(1S\right)$, $J/\psi \left(1S\right)$, ${\chi }_{c0}\left(1P\right)$, $h_c\left(1P\right)$, ${\chi }_{c1}\left(1P\right)$, ${\chi }_{c2}\left(1P\right)$, ${\eta }_c\left(2S\right)$, $\psi \left(2S\right)$, $\psi \left(3770\right)$, ${\psi }_2\left(3823\right)$, ${\psi }_3\left(3842\right)$, ${\chi }_{c0}\left(3915\right)$, ${\chi }_{c2}\left(3930\right)$, and $\psi \left(4040\right)$ states. Additionally, the exotic $T_{\psi \psi }\left(6400\right)$, $T_{\psi \psi }\left(6600\right)$, $T_{\psi \psi }\left(6900\right)$, and $T_{\psi \psi }\left(7300\right)$ states are interpreted as the $1S$-wave, $1P/2S$-wave, $1D/2P$-wave, and $2D/3P/4S$-wave $cc\bar{c}\bar{c}$ tetraquarks, respectively. Based on the achieved outcomes, the spin-parity quantum number is imperative to discriminate the nature of the $cc\bar{c}\bar{c}$ structures, pending further experimental measurement in the future. Full article

In the digital age, mobile games have become a new frontier for cultural identity and virtual consumption among Chinese Generation Z youth. With the development of the internet, users have gradually adapted to the coexistence of virtual and real identities, enriching the “small society” within games. However, virtual consumption and its underlying driving mechanisms have not received sufficient attention. Through interviews with 20 young people of Chinese Generation Z, this study argues that virtual consumption is not only about material consumption but also serves as a link between emotions and identity. In China’s increasingly atomised society, the idea of the “mimetic homeland” has become an essential interactive domain for Generation Z in the digital age. It offers individuals a dynamic space to engage with their cultural identity and sustain emotional resonance amid fragmented social conditions. In the “mimetic homeland”, game content, broadcaster charm, symbolic consumption, and player creation intertwine, allowing mobile games to create a diverse cultural identity mechanism. This mechanism rekindles players’ recognition of cultural identity and provides them with spiritual support. In mobile games, players continuously produce and consume cultural identity, using digital means to shape and spread spiritual consciousness symbols, ultimately achieving cultural identity commodification. Full article