Search Results (222)

African swine fever virus (ASFV) poses a significant threat to the global pig industry due to high mortality rates and complex genetic variation. Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) provide protection against ASFV. Previously, MGF505-2R was identified as a potent inhibitor of innate immunity in vitro. This study evaluates the pathogenicity of a recombinant Eurasian genotype II strain with the MGF505-2R gene deleted (ASFV-ΔMGF505-2R) in piglets. Twelve five-week-old crossbred piglets were divided into two groups, with one group of eight piglets inoculated with ASFV-ΔMGF505-2R (n = 8) and the other group of four piglets inoculated with the same dose of parental ASFV CN/GS 2018 (n = 4). Clinical symptoms, viral loads, and immune responses were monitored over 30 days. ASFV-ΔMGF505-2R-inoculated piglets exhibited transient fever and low viremia only in the beginning of the challenge, while the control group developed high levels of viremia and hyperthermia at day 2 and 8 post-challenge, respectively. Meanwhile, the control group demonstrated more severe post-mortem signs and immuno-histochemistry injury when compared to the ΔMGF505-2R group. ELISA analysis displayed higher levels of IFN-β and IL-1β in the ΔMGF505-2R group, further solidating the immunosuppressive role of MGF505-2R. All ASFV-ΔMGF505-2R-inoculated piglets developed high titers of ASFV-specific P30 antibodies at 10 days post-challenge. These findings rationalized the potential of ASFV-ΔMGF505-2R as a live attenuated candidate for ASF infection. Full article

This study investigates the high-temperature oxidation mechanism of pure magnesium powder and the effect of surface fluorination on its oxidation resistance. The results showed that at high temperatures, pure Mg powder reacted with H₂O and CO₂ in air to form Mg(OH)₂ and MgCO₃, which decomposed at approximately 350 °C. Above 450 °C, the oxide film ruptured and catastrophic oxidation occurred. Surface fluorination with F₂ gas generated a dense, uniform MgF₂ protective film on the magnesium surface, significantly improving the ignition point and high-temperature oxidation resistance of Mg. Increasing the fluorination temperature increased the thickness and stability of the MgF₂ layer, thereby further enhancing oxidation resistance. In particular, samples fluorinated at 200 °C showed oxidation growth limited to approximately 3%, even after heating at 500 °C for 8 h in air. Adjusting the surface fluorination conditions can create a protective MgF₂ film to address high-temperature oxidation issues in magnesium powder metallurgy applications. Full article

Femtosecond laser has been widely utilized in functional microstructural surfaces for applications such as anti-reflection, radiative cooling, and self-cleaning. However, achieving high-efficiency manufacturing of high-consistency functional microstructures (with feature sizes ~1 μm) over large areas remains a challenge. Here, we report a femtosecond laser temporal and spatial modulation technique for fabricating large-area anti-reflective microholes on magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) windows. The beam was transformed into a Bessel beam to extend the Rayleigh length, enabling the fabrication of microhole arrays with sub-micron precision and surface roughness variations within 10 nm over a 6 μm focal position shift range (5–11 μm). By modulating MHz burst pulses, the aspect ratio of the microholes was increased from 0.3 to 0.7 without compromising a processing speed of 10,000 holes per second. As a proof of concept, large-area anti-reflective microholes were fabricated on a 20 mm × 20 mm surface of the MgF₂ window, forming a nanoscale refractive index gradient layer and achieving a transmittance increase to over 98%. This method provides a feasible solution for the efficient and high-consistency manufacturing of functional microstructures over large areas. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly fatal viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boar that continues to threaten pig production across Europe. Genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been present in Serbia since 2019 and was first confirmed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, yet recent genetic data from the region have been lacking. This study aimed to update the genetic characterization of ASFV strains circulating in Serbia between 2023 and 2025 and to provide the first sequence data from Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 110 isolates were analyzed by partial sequencing of seven genomic regions recommended by the European Union Reference Laboratory. Good-quality sequences were obtained for at least two loci per isolate. All isolates belonged to genotype II and were classified as CVR variant I, IGR-II, O174L-I, MGF I, K145R-I, and ECO2-II, corresponding to cluster 19. No novel genetic changes were identified in the sequenced fragments. These findings indicate the stable, endemic circulation of cluster 19 in both domestic pigs and wild boar, maintained through ecological and human-mediated transmission at the wildlife–livestock interface. The detection of cluster 19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina underscores transboundary spread and highlights the need for continued molecular surveillance and regional cooperation. Full article

Critical nitrogen concentration (Nc) and accumulation (Na) throughout the entire growth period are key indicators for diagnosing N status and implementing precision N management in cut chrysanthemum. However, direct measurement of these two parameters is both time-consuming and destructive, and establishing accurate predictive models is fundamental to their practical application. From May 2021 to July 2022, five N-gradient experiments (ranging from 14 to 574 mgf·plant⁻¹) were conducted on the cut chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Nannong Xiaojinxing’. Predictive models for Nc and Na were developed using environmental light and temperature data during growth as driving variables. The results showed that the aboveground dry matter (DM) prediction model, which utilized the cumulative photo-thermal effect (PTE) derived from these environmental factors, demonstrated superior accuracy compared to models relying on conventional driving variables. Subsequently, the Nc and Na prediction models were established with DM as the driving variable. These models indicated that at a DM level of 1 g·plant⁻¹, Nc and Na values were 4.53% and 45.30 mg·plant⁻¹, respectively. The Na reached a maximum of 236.50 mg·plant⁻¹ at the flower harvesting stage, representing the minimum N accumulation required for optimal floral quality. Using the dry matter model as a process-based model, we successfully developed predictive models for Nc and Na driven by PTE. Validation using independent experimental data confirmed the models’ high predictive accuracy, with coefficients of determination of 0.9378 and 0.9612, and low errors—root mean square errors of 0.2736% and 19.18 mg·plant⁻¹, and normalized RMSE of 10.79% and 14.94%, respectively. These models provide a foundation for implementing precision N management and reducing fertilizer application in cut chrysanthemum production. Full article

As an emerging platform for high-precision sensing, integrated silicon-waveguide-based cavity optomechanical devices face a critical fabrication challenge in the co-fabrication of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) micromechanical structures and optical waveguides: the silicon oxide (SiO₂) layer beneath the waveguides is susceptible to etching during hydrofluoric acid (HF) release of the microstructures, leading to waveguide collapse and significantly reducing production yields. This study proposes a novel selective protection process based on a magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) thin film to address the critical challenge of long-range waveguide collapse during hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching. By depositing a MgF₂ protective layer over the waveguide regions via optical coating technology, localized protection of specific SiO₂ areas during HF etching is achieved. The experimental results demonstrate the successful release of silicon waveguides with lengths of up to 5000 μm and a significant improvement in production yield. This work provides a compatible and efficient strategy for the fabrication of robust photonic–microelectromechanical integrated devices. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and virulent infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), with mortality rates approaching 100% in domestic pigs. The global spread of ASF has caused enormous losses to the swine industry and species diversity, seriously affecting food safety in China. ASFV mainly infects the mononuclear system, inducing significant alterations in host-cell gene expression. Multigene family 360 (MGF360) genes play crucial roles in ASFV infection. To investigate the function of MGF360–4L, this study employed high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze dynamic transcriptomic changes in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) infected with wild-type ASFV (ASFV-WT) or MGF360–4L deletion mutant (ASFVΔMGF360–4L). Results demonstrated that both viruses activated host innate immune responses during early infection, significantly upregulating immune-related genes. At 16 h post-infection, differentially expressed genes in ASFV-WT- and ASFVΔMGF360–4L-infected cells were enriched in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathways, suggesting a potential involvement of MGF360–4L in this process. This study elucidates novel ASFV–host interactions using transcriptomics, providing data to support ASF control strategies. Full article

MgF₂ films are prepared using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). The influence of substrate temperature on the growth behavior, chemical composition, and optical properties of MgF₂ films is systematically investigated. The experimental results show that the deposition process transitions through three distinct regimes: an incomplete-reaction regime at 100 °C, a self-limiting ALD window at 125–150 °C, and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-like regime above 175 °C. At 100 °C, incomplete surface chemistry yields low growth-per-cycle, carbon incorporation, and an elevated refractive index. Within 125–150 °C, films are near-stoichiometric, smooth, and exhibit a low refractive index ≈ 1.37 ± 0.003 at 550 nm. Above 175 °C, precursor decomposition drives non-self-limiting growth with increased roughness. As an application-level validation, a film grown at 125 °C used as a double-sided antireflection coating on glass increases transmittance from 92 ± 0.1% (bare) to 97.2% ± 0.2% at 550 nm. The average transmittance of 96.4 ± 0.2% over 380–780 nm can be achieved. Overall, this work establishes the relationship between deposition temperature and PEALD-MgF₂ film properties and demonstrates precise, low-temperature, non-corrosive deposition suitable for advanced optical antireflection coatings. Full article

Background/Objectives: The African swine fever virus (ASFV) multi-gene family (MGF) 360 proteins play critical roles in immune evasion, replication regulation, and virulence determination. Despite substantial advances in this field, the functional roles of many members within this gene family remain to be fully characterized. Methods: In this study, Transcriptional kinetics analysis indicated that the expression profile of MGF 360-2L was consistent with that of the late marker gene B646L (p72). Transcriptomic profiling identified 13 and 171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 12 and 24 h post-infection (hpi) with ΔMGF 360-2L, respectively. Results: Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses indicated that these DEGs were predominantly enriched in Type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling pathways. It is noteworthy that transcriptome analysis further demonstrates that the absence of MGF 360-2L specifically results in the dysregulation of expression of the replication-essential genes E199L and E301R. These findings indicate that MG F360-2L is essential for maintaining the stable expression of these proteins. Conclusions:MGF 360-2L is a late gene that contributes to the precise regulation of viral protein expression and modulates the host immune response during infection. Full article

To identify the root-knot nematodes (RKNs) infecting onions in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, morphological and molecular biological techniques were used. Observation of their life cycle and pathogenicity was conducted through artificial inoculation experiments in a greenhouse. The results show that the morphological characteristics and measurement data of the second-stage juveniles (J2s) and females of RKNs infecting onion roots are highly consistent with those of Meloidogyne graminicola (M. graminicola). Sequence alignment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) COXI region and 28S rDNA D2-D3 region revealed sequence similarities of 99.51–100.00% and 99.48–99.61%, respectively, compared with M. graminicola sequences from GenBank. The specific primers Mg-F3/Mg-R2 reliably amplified a characteristic 369 bp band. Inoculation experiments confirmed that the pathogen can complete its entire life cycle (approximately 26 days (ds)) on the roots of healthy onion seedlings, inducing typical root-knot symptoms and females. In conclusion, the pathogen was identified as M. graminicola, which is the first report of M. graminicola infecting onions in China. This study provides important theoretical support for the molecular diagnosis of onion root-knot nematode disease and the green control of Allium L. vegetables in China. Full article

Adenosine signaling plays protective roles in gingival mitochondrial health and inflammation control, with the ectoenzyme CD73 implicated in periodontitis. Here, we investigated the effects of selective adenosine A2a receptor (A2aR) stimulation using the agonist CGS21680 in a mouse model of ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP) and in gingival fibroblast mitochondrial function. Mature C57Bl/6 mice underwent LIP and received daily intraperitoneal injections of CGS21680 (0.1 mg/Kg) or saline. After 8 days, gingival tissues and maxillae were analyzed for alveolar bone loss and Il-1β levels. In parallel, murine gingival fibroblasts (mGFs) were treated with Tnf-α (5 ng/mL) ± CGS21680 (10 µM) to assess mitochondrial function, morphology, and quality control. A2aR activation significantly reduced alveolar bone loss and Il-1β expression in vivo. In vitro, CGS21680 suppressed Tnf-α-induced Cxcl10 and Cxcl12 expressions and enhanced Vegf production. Mitochondrial analysis revealed increased mitochondrial complex levels, membrane potential, and mass, alongside reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), proton leak, and mitochondrial stress. Ultrastructural studies showed elongated, healthier mitochondria and increased pro-fusion markers, indicating enhanced mitochondrial quality control. Overall, A2aR stimulation attenuates periodontal inflammation and confers mitoprotective effects on gingival fibroblasts, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy to both mitigate periodontitis progression and preserve tissue bioenergetics supporting cellular resilience. Full article

This paper investigates the error rate performance of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) systems employing opportunistic amplify-and-forward (OAF) relaying under Rayleigh fading conditions. To support both data forwarding and energy harvesting at relays, a power splitting (PS) mechanism is applied. We derive exact and asymptotic symbol error rate (SER) expressions using moment-generating function (MGF) methods, providing analytical insights into how the power splitting ratio $\rho$ and the quality of source–relay (SR) and relay–destination (RD) links jointly affect system behavior. Additionally, we propose a novel approximation that interprets the SWIPT-OAF configuration as an equivalent non-SWIPT OAF model. This enables tractable performance analysis while preserving key diversity characteristics. The framework is extended to include scenarios with partial channel state information (CSI) and $N_{\mathrm{th}}$ best relay selection, addressing practical concerns such as limited relay availability and imperfect decision-making. Extensive simulations validate the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach under a wide range of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and channel conditions. These findings contribute to a flexible and scalable design strategy for SWIPT-OAF relay systems, making them suitable for deployment in emerging wireless sensor and internet of things (IoT) networks. Full article

To overcome the limitations of existing maritime radar identification analysis methods, which are only applicable to sea-skimming aircraft and fail to quantitatively calculate the probability of radar correctly identifying the target under electromagnetic influence from marine geographical features (MGFs), an advanced method is proposed for calculating the radar identification probability in marine areas using 3D MGF models. The method first established the radar identification criteria in 3D space, considering radar line of sight (LOS), radar target adhesion (RTA), and radar resolutions in range, azimuth angle, and elevation angle. It then comprehensively analyzed errors from both the aircraft and MGFs. Finally, the probability of a target at a specific marine location being correctly identified by radar was calculated using the Monte Carlo method. Theoretical derivations and simulation results demonstrated that: (1) Unlike existing methods limited to sea-skimming aircraft, the proposed method is applicable to aircraft at any altitude, better aligning with current aircraft performance and requirements; (2) While existing methods provide only a binary result of “identified” or “unidentified,” the proposed method offers a probability value. For the same marine location point T_a, the proposed method yields radar identification probabilities of 0.0877 for sea-skimming aircraft and 0.5887 for high-altitude aircraft, providing more precise and intuitive decision-making support for mission planners. Full article

This paper presents an analytical study of the bit error rate (BER) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance in simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying systems over Rayleigh fading channels. A power-splitting (PS) protocol is employed at the energy-constrained relay to divide the received signal for concurrent energy harvesting and information processing. Closed-form and asymptotic BER expressions are derived based on exact and bounded moment-generating functions (MGFs), offering insights into how the SNR balance between the source–relay (SR) and relay–destination (RD) links influences system performance. An asymptotic BER expression further reveals that a SWIPT AF relay system can be interpreted as a generalized AF relaying model, sharing the same diversity order as conventional AF systems. Based on this interpretation, an optimization method for the PS factor is proposed, effectively reducing the BER by reinforcing the weaker link. Simulation results confirm the tightness of the derived expressions and the effectiveness of the optimization strategy. Moreover, the analytical framework is extended to multiple SWIPT relaying systems, where multiple relays operate with individually optimized PS ratios. For such configurations, approximations for the system BER, outage probability, and channel capacity are derived and validated. Results demonstrate that increasing the number of relays significantly improves system performance, and the proposed analysis accurately captures these performance gains under varying channel conditions. Full article

Magnesium alloy stents exhibit significant potential in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases due to their remarkable mechanical support and biodegradability. However, bare magnesium alloy stents often degrade too quickly and exhibit inadequate biocompatibility, which severely restricts their clinical applicability. Herein, a composite coating consisting of an MgF₂ conversion layer, a polydopamine (PDA) layer, fucoidan, and hyaluronic acid was prepared to enhance the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of ZE21B alloy for a vascular stent application. The modified ZE21B alloy exhibited relatively high surface roughness, moderate wettability, and better corrosion resistance. Moreover, the modified ZE21B alloy with a low hemolysis rate and fibrinogen adsorption level confirmed improved hemocompatibility for medical requirements. Furthermore, the ZE21B alloy modified with fucoidan and hyaluronic acid enhanced the adhesion, proliferation, and NO release of endothelial cells (ECs). Simultaneously, it inhibits the adhesion and proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), promoting a competitive advantage for ECs over SMCs due to the synergistic effects of fucoidan and hyaluronic acid. The incorporation of fucoidan and hyaluronic acid markedly improved the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the ZE21B magnesium alloy. This development presents a straightforward and effective strategy for the advancement of biodegradable vascular stents. Full article