Search Results (19,084)

The intensification of thermal extremes increases the need for strategies that protect indoor comfort and reduce the energy demand of active systems. This study employs EnergyPlus dynamic simulations to evaluate how passive thermal design solutions for heating and cooling can minimize indoor temperature fluctuations. The analysis covers multiple locations to identify the most effective techniques for improving indoor thermal performance and energy efficiency. Results demonstrate that passive thermal strategies offer a sustainable and efficient approach to adapting buildings to extreme temperature variations, thereby reducing dependence on mechanical systems. The greatest reduction in energy demand is achieved by increasing the envelope’s thermal mass, particularly in hot and temperate climates. Enhanced insulation and green roofs are more effective in cold and humid climates. In addition, solar control measures, such as external shading and reduced glazing areas, help lower indoor temperatures in high-thermal-radiation regions. Full article

This study aimed to solve two problems of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, namely, their slow crystallization rate and insufficient thermal stability, by using polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) as a modifier to prepare PET-PEN blends with varying PEN contents (0%, 0.9%, 1.8%, and 9%). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and other methods were used to systematically investigate the effects of the PEN content and cooling rate (5–40 °C/min) on the non-isothermal crystallization behavior and kinetics of the blends. The results indicate that PET and PEN exhibit excellent compatibility. As the PEN content increases, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the blend increases, while the melting point (T_m) and relative crystallinity decrease. PEN exerts an effect on the crystallization temperature (T_c)—“heterogeneous nucleation—diffusion control—steric hindrance effect”. The cold crystallization behavior depends on the PEN content and cooling rate. Samples with PEN content did not exhibit cold crystallization at low cooling rates. The observed non-isothermal crystallization kinetics show that PEN transforms the growth dimension of PET crystals from three-dimensional to two-dimensional, significantly reducing the absolute values of the crystallization rate constant (Z_c) and crystallization activation energy (ΔE). ΔE tends to stabilize when the PEN content reaches or exceeds 1.8%. In summary, PEN achieves precise control of PET non-isothermal crystallization through the mechanism of “heterogeneous nucleation—diffusion control—steric hindrance effect”. The research results provide theoretical support for the optimization of processing technology for PET-PEN blend films in high-end fields such as food packaging and electronic insulation. Full article

Background/Objectives: African Swine Fever (ASF), caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious and lethal disease in pigs, for which no recognized safe and effective vaccine is currently available. The ASFV EP153R gene, expressed during both early and late infection stages, exhibits strong protective potential. Utilizing advances in genetic engineering, recombinant PRRSV vector vaccines carrying ASFV exogenous genes were constructed. This study aims to prepare pEP153R-based polyclonal antibodies and an iELISA detection method using the constructed rPRRSV-EP153R as a specific target to verify the iELISA’s specificity and effectiveness. Methods: A prokaryotic plasmid, pCold-TF-EP153R, was constructed to express protein in BL21 (DE3). The purified soluble protein (2 mg/mL) was used to generate a murine polyclonal antibody and establish an indirect ELISA. The EP153R gene was inserted between ORF1b and ORF2a of PRRSV via reverse genetics, yielding recombinant rPRRSV-EP153R. Its biological properties were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Results: The pEP153R was specifically detected by both anti-His antibody and generated polyclonal antibodies. An established iELISA showed high specificity, sensitivity, and 98.18% accuracy. The antibodies specifically recognized pEP153R expressed in recombinant virus and eukaryotic systems. Additionally, the recombinant virus stably maintained EP153R without changes in virological characteristics relative to vHuN4-F112. In vaccinated piglets, the rPRRSV-EP153R induced a specific, consistent, and detectable immune response. Conclusions: The established iELISA, characterized by high specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy, furnishes reliable technical support for the serological diagnosis of ASFV. Meanwhile, the recombinant virus rPRRSV-EP153R demonstrates potential as a novel live vectored vaccine candidate, with the capability to induce specific immunity against both ASFV and PRRSV. Full article

Titanium and its alloys are well-suited for marine engineering owing to their high specific strength and superior corrosion resistance. However, their high cost remains a key barrier to widespread marine application. Titanium/steel (Ti/Fe) dissimilar materials provide a promising solution by integrating titanium’s corrosion resistance with the high strength of steel, thereby significantly reducing costs. This review systematically assesses the potential preparation strategies for Ti/Fe dissimilar materials, such as explosive welding, rolling, high-energy beam cladding, and cold spray, to meet the large-scale application requirements in marine engineering. Advanced welding techniques for joining Ti/Fe joints are also discussed. The advantages and issues of Ni, Cu, Fe, and Al interlayers suitable for marine engineering applications in inhibiting Fe-Ti IMCs are introduced, with a focus on their potential in promoting the development of economically efficient ocean engineering. A comprehensive evaluation is conducted on the performance of Ti/Fe dissimilar materials, particularly their corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance in marine environments. This review aims to provide a reference for the theoretical research, preparation strategies, and application expansion of low-cost Ti/Fe dissimilar materials in marine engineering. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rapid, objective phenotyping of donor kidneys is needed to support peri-implant decisions. Label-free Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of static cold-storage Celsior^® perfusion fluid can discriminate kidneys recovered from donation after circulatory death (DCD) versus donation after brain death (DBD). Methods: Preservation solution from isolated kidney allografts (n = 10; 5 DCD/5 DBD) matched on demographics was analyzed in the Amide I and fingerprint regions. Several spectral preprocessing steps were applied, and feature extraction was based on the Fast Correlation-Based Filter. Support vector machines and Naïve Bayes were evaluated. Unsupervised structure was assessed based on cosine distance, multidimensional scaling, and hierarchical clustering. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) was used to examine band co-variation. Results: Donor cohorts were well balanced, except for higher terminal serum creatinine in DCD. Quality metrics were comparable, indicating no systematic technical bias. In Amide I, derivatives improved classification, but performance remained modest (e.g., second derivative with feature selection yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 and an accuracy of 0.90 for support vector machines; Naïve Bayes reached an AUC of 0.92 with an accuracy of 0.70). The fingerprint window was most informative. Naïve Bayes with second derivative plus feature selection identified bands at ~1202, ~1203, ~1342, and ~1413 cm⁻¹ and achieved an AUC of 1.00 and an accuracy of 1.00. Unsupervised analyses showed coherent grouping in the fingerprint region, and 2D correlation maps indicated coordinated multi-band changes. Conclusions: Performance in this 10-sample pilot should be interpreted cautiously, as perfect leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) estimates are vulnerable to overfitting. The findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating, and they require confirmation in larger, multicenter cohorts with a pre-registered analysis pipeline and external validation. Full article

In response to increasing safety concerns regarding the use of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in winemaking, this study investigates the efficacy of Metschnikowia pulcherrima-mediated cold maceration (Mp-CM) as a potential alternative to SO₂ at industrial temperatures (10–15 °C). The analysis focused on the content of different phenolics, as well as wine color properties and aroma compounds. These parameters were compared against those obtained from CM with SO₂ (SO₂-CM). This study introduces and compares the phenolics, wine color properties, and volatile compounds produced by three Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains (Mp0519, Mp0516, and Mp0520 were previously isolated from Muscat Hamburg grapes in the Jieshi mountain region), revealing that the effectiveness of the treatments varied depending on the temperature and strain. At 10 °C, Mp-CM showed significantly lower phenolic (−19.23%) and flavonoid (−41.13%) content compared to SO₂-CM but exhibited markedly higher anthocyanin and terpene content (+133.11% and +12.61%, respectively), with similar tannin levels. Conversely, at 15 °C, Mp-CM outperformed SO₂-CM in several key metrics, including total phenolics (+17.32%), flavonoids (+83.45%), tannins (+17.05%), and anthocyanins (+54.08%), and demonstrated a significantly enhanced floral/fruity aroma intensity (+160.72%). Furthermore, Mp0520 exhibited peak levels of phenolics and esters at 10 °C, while Mp0519 reached its highest terpene level at 10 °C and total volatile at 15 °C. Notably, Mp-CM consistently displayed specific characteristics regardless of the maceration temperature, including a reduction in total volatile compounds, a suppression of ester formation, an enhancement of anthocyanin content, and an improvement of the wine’s floral aroma, with strain-specific variations observed across all evaluated parameters. This study illustrates that the Mp-CM provides distinct advantages in extracting key components from grape skins, and it has the potential to enhance wine color attributes. This positions Mp as a promising SO₂ alternative for CM, contingent on strain selection and process optimization. Full article

Acute respiratory infections are highly prevalent and significantly impair quality of life and productivity. Despite their impact, they are often not managed according to best medical practice. A lack of knowledge about symptomatic therapies leads to mis- and under-treatment. Thus, this narrative expert opinion paper aims to highlight the importance of appropriate and early symptomatic treatment in order to assist informed therapeutic decision making and advance efforts to reduce antibiotics misuse. Clinical and mechanistic evidence supports the use of several herbal and synthetic non-antibiotic treatment options. While acute respiratory infections are usually self-limiting, treatment alleviates symptom severity, reducing the risk of inflammatory escalation. Timing of the intervention is crucial, as early initiation shortens illness duration. In conclusion, optimizing the management of acute respiratory infections could relieve the individual and societal burden of illness and slow the increase in antimicrobial resistances. Full article

Centralized heating systems in severe cold regions suffer from widespread load estimation deviations due to architectural heterogeneity and a lack of construction drawings, leading to substantial energy waste. This study proposes a lightweight load calculation method that facilitates efficient calculation of heating loads for heterogeneous building clusters via spatial thermal pattern decoupling and matrix reorganization. First, a 3 × 3 load characteristic matrix is developed to characterize the spatial variation in thermal demand across different building positions (corner vs. intermediate units × top, middle, and bottom floors), revealing that corner units exhibit higher thermal loads than intermediate units, while top and bottom floors show significantly higher loads than middle floors. Second, two complementary matrices are established: the load characteristic matrix, which represents the building’s thermal behavior, and the structural feature matrix, which encodes the architectural configuration in terms of unit count (a) and floor count (b). Together, they enable rapid hourly load synthesis using only lightweight input parameters. The method is validated on 56 heterogeneous residential buildings in Northeast China. Using a decoupled 4U/6F standard model, the synthesized cluster heating load achieves an R² of 0.88, an RMSE of 24.15 GJ, a MAPE of 4.94%, and a Mean Percentage Error (MPE) of −0.82% against actual heating supply data, demonstrating high accuracy and negligible systematic bias—particularly during cold waves. This approach allows the seasonal variation in heat demand across an entire residential area to be estimated even in the absence of detailed construction drawings, offering practical guidance for operational heating management. Full article

The article focuses on floor composite beams used in buildings. Within the scope of the conducted analytical and numerical studies, the authors compared the typical solution—namely, the T-shaped reinforced concrete beam—with various types of composite beams, the height of which could not exceed the predetermined usable depth of the beam cross-section. The analyses focused on traditional steel–concrete composite beams, which are widely used in civil engineering, as well as modern solutions, such as timber–timber and steel–timber composite beams. A new type of a steel–timber composite beam with a cold-formed girder made of two channels was presented in this study. Due to the flexibility of the connections, the timber–timber and steel–timber composite beams were examined under three different connection conditions: full composite action, partial composite action, and no composite action (friction only). Composite beams with timber slabs are consistent with the principles of sustainable construction, which makes their comparison with conventional solutions particularly relevant. The load-deflection curves and the bending resistance of the analysed elements were obtained using numerical simulations. In the numerical analyses, advanced material models were used. Composite beams with timber elements had lower stiffness than the steel–concrete composite beam. For this reason, meeting the serviceability limit state can be more challenging for such structures. Furthermore, the degree of shear connection in the composite beams with timber elements had a strong impact on their load-bearing capacity and end-slip. The steel–timber composite beam with a cold-formed girder had the most favourable resistance-to-mass ratio. The analytical results, and especially the numerical findings, provide a foundation for future experimental investigations. Full article

Macellicephaloides Uschakov, 1955 (Annelida: Polynoidae) is a genus of deep-sea polychaetes characterized by a specialized pharynx bearing two pairs of jaws (with the dorsal pair fused) and three pairs of lateral papillae, the middle pair of which is greatly elongated, and remarkable adaptability to diverse deep-sea habitats. Most species in this genus inhabit abyssal depths (>7200 m), with high diversity in western Pacific trenches, while a few occur in relatively shallow habitats such as deep-sea seamounts and hydrothermal vents. This paper presents a new species, Macellicephaloides lingshuiensis sp. nov., found in deep-sea cold seeps in the South China Sea, representing the shallowest distribution record for the genus to date and the first record from cold seep environments. The classification and phylogeny of Macellicephaloides and related genera have long been the subject of debate. A previous study suggested that Macellicephaloides is nested within the Macellicephala clade, but our analyses—based on 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes, 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S rRNA, and ITS1-ITS2 sequences—tentatively indicate that these two genera form independent evolutionary clades. Additionally, our phylogeny indicates a close evolutionary relationship between deep-sea Macellicephaloides and cave-dwelling polynoids (e.g., Gesiella), highlighting ecological connections between deep-sea and cave habitats. These conclusions are supported by morphological comparisons and genetic distance analyses. Although the subfamily Macellicephalinae is recovered as a monophyletic group, intergeneric phylogenetic relationships within it remain unresolved, highlighting the need for additional data from more species and genera. We amend the generic diagnosis of Macellicephaloides and provide an identification key to all valid species in the genus. This study clarifies the taxonomy and phylogeny of Macellicephaloides and related taxa, emphasizing the importance of continued sampling in understudied deep-sea habitats to enhance our understanding of their biodiversity. Full article

Lubricants significantly influence the performance and durability of internal combustion engines (ICEs), yet fresh oils seldom represent in-service conditions. To replicate realistic end-of-life scenarios, lubricants were artificially degraded in sufficient quantities for experimental investigation. This study introduces a methodology to evaluate the impact of altered lubricants on turbocharger dynamics under controlled laboratory conditions. A comparative analysis was performed on turbochargers operating with fresh and aged oils of varying compositions to establish correlations between lubricant properties and vibrational response. Particular attention was given to sub-synchronous phenomena and their implications for rotordynamic stability. Variations in damping and stiffness were assessed under constant pressure and temperature to support mathematical modeling of lubricant degradation and viscosity evolution. Experiments were conducted on a cold turbocharger test bench equipped with acceleration, speed, and displacement sensors, while a mobile oil control unit ensured precise regulation of inlet oil pressure and temperature. Full article

With the growing demand for functional dairy products, integrating dual-animal proteins presents a promising strategy to enhance both nutritional value and functional properties. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of egg white supplementation on the stability, physicochemical attributes, sensory quality, and shelf-life of yogurt. Yogurt samples were prepared by fermenting milk supplemented with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% egg white, and subsequently evaluated for physicochemical parameters, microstructure, rheological behavior, water-holding capacity, and sensory profiles using an electronic nose and electronic tongue. Results showed that 5% egg white significantly improved yogurt stability after one day of refrigeration, whereas 10% supplementation yielded texture comparable to the control but with enhanced protein content, water retention, gel strength, and microstructural uniformity. Over 14 days of cold storage, a gradual decline occurred in physicochemical and structural parameters across all samples; however, flavor profiles remained largely stable, with no adverse effects on sensory quality except for a mild increase in acidity. These findings highlight egg white as a functional ingredient capable of improving yogurt stability and textural quality without compromising flavor, offering new opportunities for the development of high-protein, dual-animal protein fermented dairy products in the functional food industry. Full article

The high-latitude cold regions of northeastern China present scarce thermal resources, exhibit a short frost-free period, and lack high-yielding maize (Zea mays L.) varieties suitable for dense planting. These factors have long constrained the realization of maize yield potential under dense planting conditions. This study investigated the effects of intercropping maize varieties with different growth periods on the photosynthetic performance, yield formation, and interspecific competition. The long-season varieties Zhengdan958 (ZD958) and Xianyu335 (XY335), which are representative of the region, were intercropped with the shorter-season variety Yinongyu10 (YNY10), six intercropping row ratios (6:6, 4:4, 2:2, 1:1, 0:1, and 1:0) were set, and monoculture plots (0:1 and 1:0) were used as the controls. The results indicated that as the row ratio decreased in the intercropped plots, the leaf area index, relative leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate increased while the intercellular CO₂ concentration gradually decreased compared with those in the monoculture plots. Simultaneously, dry matter accumulation, allocation, transport efficiency, 100-kernel weight, number of kernels per ear, and grain yield progressively increased, reaching maximum values at a 1:1 intercropping row ratio. Conversely, YNY10 in the intercropped plots exhibited opposite trends in these parameters. The land equivalent ratios for all intercropped row ratios exceeded 1. During the 2023–2024 growing season, the composite population grain yield was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at an intercropping row ratio of 1:1 for ZD958 (4.11–4.26%) and XY335 (3.54–3.65%) compared with the monoculture treatments, demonstrating the strong yield advantage of intercropping. Furthermore, in the intercropping systems, ZD958 and XY335 exhibited positive aggressivity and a competitive ratio greater than 1, thus showing stronger competitive ability than YNY10. Moreover, the increased grain yield of ZD958 and XY335 effectively compensated for the ecological disadvantages of YNY10, thereby leveraging the synergistic effects of close planting and intercropping patterns to promote improvements in maize composite population productivity. Full article

Water conservation, as a critical ecosystem service, plays a vital role in maintaining regional water resources balance. Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, the expansion of construction land has intensified the encroachment on ecological spaces, posing significant challenges to water resource carrying capacity. From a supply–demand perspective, this study employs the InVEST model and integrates multi-source data including meteorological and socio-economic datasets to construct models of water conservation supply and demand. Furthermore, spatial analysis methods are applied to examine the evolution of water resource carrying capacity in Gansu Province—a key region within the Yellow River Basin—from 2000 to 2020. The results indicate the following: (1) through desertification control, unused land has been progressively restored to grassland, yet continuous urban expansion has substantially encroached upon surrounding plowland and grassland; (2) the spatial pattern of water conservation supply exhibits a “high in the south and west, low in the north and east” distribution, with the maximum value per pixel increasing from 7.89 × 10⁵ m³ to 8.15 × 10⁵ m³. Overall, water resource carrying capacity has generally declined, with intensified pressure in central cities such as Lanzhou, while some improvement is observed in forested areas of the south; and (3) cold spots in the western Qilian Mountains have expanded toward the Hexi Corridor, reflecting significant spatial changes and indicating ecological degradation. Urbanization has markedly exacerbated regional imbalances in water resource carrying capacity, providing a scientific basis for water–ecological risk management in arid regions. Full article

Anubias (Araceae) is a globally important group of ornamental aquatic plants. However, when temperatures drop to 10 °C, most species suffer obvious frostbite from cold stress, restricting winter cultivation and broader application. This study focused on two Anubias genotypes with distinct cold tolerance, adopting an integrated approach combining phenotypic, physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses to reveal the mechanisms underlying their differential cold tolerance. Under 10 °C cold stress, compared with normal temperatures, the leaves of cold-tolerant Anubias sp. ‘Long Leaf’ (Jian) showed no significant frostbite, while cold-sensitive Anubias barteri var. nana ‘Coin Leaf’ (Jin) had clear frost damage. Both genotypes exhibited increased leaf relative electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, soluble sugar content, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); “Jian” had more notable rises in SOD/CAT activities and maintained higher levels, whereas “Jin” showed greater increases in conductivity, MDA, and soluble sugar. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed “Jian” specifically upregulated metabolites in pathways like flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and tryptophan metabolism, as well as genes related to valine, leucine, isoleucine degradation and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. ERFs, WRKYs, NACs and other transcription factors correlated with these differentially expressed genes, suggesting potential transcriptional regulation. These results provides insights for breeding cold-tolerant Anubias and optimizing low-temperature cultivation. Full article