Search Results (611)

This article analyzes statistics on the failure of technological equipment, assemblies, and mechanisms of agricultural (and other) machines associated with the breakdown or failure of gear pumps. It was found that the leading causes of gear pump failures are the opening of gear teeth contact during pump operation, poor assembly, wear of bushings, thrust washers, and gear teeth. It has also been found that there is a problem related to the restoration, repair, and manufacture of parts in the conditions of enterprises serving the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AIC RK). This is due to the lack of necessary technological equipment, tools, and instruments, as well as centralized repair and restoration bases equipped with the required equipment. This work proposes to solve this problem by applying AM technologies to the repair and manufacture of parts for agricultural machinery and equipment. The study results on the stress–strain state of support bushings under various pressures are presented, showing that a fully filled bushing has the lowest stresses and strains. It was also found that bushings with 50% filling and fully filled bushings have similar stress and strain values under the same pressure. The difference between them is insignificant, especially when compared to bushings with lower filling. This means that filling the bushing by more than 50% does not provide a significant additional reduction in stresses. In terms of material and printing time savings, 50% filling may also be the optimal option. Full article

Stress granule formation is a type of liquid–liquid phase separation in the cytoplasm, leading to RNA–protein condensates that are associated with various cellular stress responses and implicated in numerous pathologies, including cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and cellular senescence. One of the key components of mammalian stress granules is the DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3, which unwinds RNA in an ATP-dependent manner. DDX3 is involved in multiple steps of RNA metabolism, facilitating gene transcription, splicing, and nuclear export and regulating cytoplasmic translation. In this study, we investigate the role of the RNA helicase DDX3’s enzymatic activity in shaping the RNA content of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates formed during arsenite-induced stress by inhibiting DDX3 activity with RK-33, a small molecule previously shown to be effective in cancer clinical studies. Using the human osteosarcoma U2OS cell line, we purified the RNP granule fraction and performed RNA sequencing to assess changes in the RNA pool. Our results reveal that RK-33 treatment alters the composition of non-coding RNAs within the RNP granule fraction. We observed a DDX3-dependent increase in circular RNA (circRNA) content and alterations in the granule-associated intronic RNAs, suggesting a novel role for DDX3 in regulating the cytoplasmic redistribution of non-coding RNAs. Full article

Structural collapses caused by accidents or disasters could create unexpected radiation shielding, resulting in sharp gradients within the radiation field. Traditional radiation mapping methods often fail to accurately capture these complex variations, making the rapid and precise localization of radiation sources a significant challenge in emergency response scenarios. To address this issue, based on standard Gaussian process regression (GPR) models that primarily utilize a single Gaussian kernel to reflect the inverse-square law in free space, a novel multi-kernel Gaussian process regression (MK-GPR) model is proposed for high-fidelity radiation mapping in environments with physical obstructions. MK-GPR integrates two additional kernel functions with adaptive weighting: one models the attenuation characteristics of intervening materials, and the other captures the energy-dependent penetration behavior of radiation. To validate the model, gamma-ray distributions in complex, shielded environments were simulated using GEometry ANd Tracking 4 (Geant4). Compared with conventional methods, including linear interpolation, nearest-neighbor interpolation, and standard GPR, MK-GPR demonstrated substantial improvements in key evaluation metrics, such as MSE, RMSE, and MAE. Notably, the coefficient of determination (R²) increased to 0.937. For practical deployment, the optimized MK-GPR model was deployed to an RK-3588 edge computing platform and integrated into a mobile robot equipped with a NaI(Tl) detector. Field experiments confirmed the system’s ability to accurately map radiation fields and localize gamma sources. When combined with SLAM, the system achieved localization errors of 10 cm for single sources and 15 cm for dual sources. These results highlight the potential of the proposed approach as an effective and deployable solution for radiation source investigation in post-disaster environments. Full article

The worldwide agriculture industry is facing increasing problems due to rapid population increase and increasingly unfavorable weather patterns. In order to reach the projected food production targets, which are essential for guaranteeing global food security, innovative and sustainable agricultural methods must be adopted. Conventional approaches, including traditional breeding procedures, often cannot handle the complex and simultaneous effects of biotic pressures such as pest infestations, disease attacks, and nutritional imbalances, as well as abiotic stresses including heat, salt, drought, and heavy metal toxicity. Applying phytohormonal approaches, particularly those involving hormonal crosstalk, presents a viable way to increase crop resilience in this context. Abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GAs), auxin, cytokinins, salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene, and GA are among the plant hormones that control plant stress responses. In order to precisely respond to a range of environmental stimuli, these hormones allow plants to control gene expression, signal transduction, and physiological adaptation through intricate networks of antagonistic and constructive interactions. This review focuses on how the principal hormonal signaling pathways (in particular, ABA-ET, ABA-JA, JA-SA, and ABA-auxin) intricately interact and how they affect the plant stress response. For example, ABA-driven drought tolerance controls immunological responses and stomatal behavior through antagonistic interactions with ET and SA, while using SnRK2 kinases to activate genes that react to stress. Similarly, the transcription factor MYC2 is an essential node in ABA–JA crosstalk and mediates the integration of defense and drought signals. Plants’ complex hormonal crosstalk networks are an example of a precisely calibrated regulatory system that strikes a balance between growth and abiotic stress adaptation. ABA, JA, SA, ethylene, auxin, cytokinin, GA, and BR are examples of central nodes that interact dynamically and context-specifically to modify signal transduction, rewire gene expression, and change physiological outcomes. To engineer stress-resilient crops in the face of shifting environmental challenges, a systems-level view of these pathways is provided by a combination of enrichment analyses and STRING-based interaction mapping. These hormonal interactions are directly related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action). This review emphasizes the potential of biotechnologies to use hormone signaling to improve agricultural performance and sustainability by uncovering the molecular foundations of hormonal crosstalk. Increasing our understanding of these pathways presents a strategic opportunity to increase crop resilience, reduce environmental degradation, and secure food systems in the face of increasing climate unpredictability. Full article

The anodic oxide layer’s porosity is considered a functional feature, acting as a reservoir of lubricants. This feature enables the design of self-lubricating systems that effectively reduce friction and wear. To improve the tribological performance of Al₂O₃ anodic coatings on EN AW 5251 aluminium alloys, this paper presents a modification of the coating with tungsten disulfide (IF-WS₂) nanopowder and its effect on coating resistance. The wear properties of Al₂O₃/IF-WS₂ coatings in contact with a cast iron pin were investigated. The results include the analysis of the friction coefficient in the reciprocating motion without oil lubrication at two loads, the analysis of the wear intensity of the cast iron pin, the characterisation of wear scars, and the analysis of SGP parameters. Two-level factorial analysis showed that load and nanomodification significantly affected the load-bearing parameter Rk. Incorporation of the modifier, especially under higher loads, reduced the Rk value, thus improving the tribological durability of the contact pair. Both load and nanomodification had a notable impact on the coefficient of friction. The use of IF-WS₂-modified coatings reduced the coefficient, and higher loads further enhanced this effect, by approximately 9% at a load of 0.3 MPa and 15% at a load of 0.6 MPa, indicating improved lubricating conditions under greater contact stress. Full article

Scavenging domestic ducks significantly contribute to the transmission and maintenance of highly pathogenic H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza viruses in Bangladesh, a strain of growing global concern due to its broad host range, high pathogenicity, and spillover potential. This study investigates the molecular epidemiology and pathology of HPAI H5N1 viruses in unvaccinated scavenging ducks in Bangladesh, with the goal of assessing viral evolution and associated disease outcomes. Between June 2022 and March 2024, 40 scavenging duck flocks were investigated for HPAI outbreaks. Active HPAIV H5N1 infection was detected in 35% (14/40) of the flocks using RT-qPCR. Affected ducks exhibited clinical signs of incoordination, torticollis, and paralysis. Pathological examination revealed prominent meningoencephalitis, encephalopathy and encephalomalacia, along with widespread lesions in the trachea, lungs, liver, and spleen, indicative of systemic HPAIV infection. A phylogenetic analysis of full-genome sequences confirmed the continued circulation of clade 2.3.2.1a genotype G2 in these ducks. Notably, two samples of 2022 and 2023 harbored HPAIV H5N1 of clade 2.3.4.4b, showing genetic similarity to H5N1 strains circulating in Korea and Vietnam. A mutation analysis of the HA protein in clade 2.3.4.4b viruses revealed key substitutions, including T156A (loss of an N-linked glycosylation site), S141P (antigenic site A), and E193R/K (receptor-binding pocket), indicating potential antigenic drift and receptor-binding adaptation compared to clade 2.3.2.1a. The emergence of clade 2.3.4.4b with the first report of neurological and systemic lesions suggests ongoing viral evolution with increased pathogenic potential for ducks. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and biosecurity to control HPAI spread in Bangladesh. Full article

This study determines the influence of technological parameters of slide burnishing on the size of surface defects (scratches). The experiment was performed on ring-shaped samples of C45 steel. The samples had scratches made on their surface with a nominal depth from 10 μm to 70 μm. Slide burnishing was carried out using a variable force and feed. It was observed that regardless of the applied force and feed, scratches with a nominal depth of 10 μm and 20 μm were completely removed, and a “crushing” effect occurred. As for other surface defects, they were 2 to 27 times smaller compared to their values before burnishing. The surface roughness parameters Ra, Rt, Rpk, Rk, and Rvk decreased. Their values were 42% to 91% lower than those observed after grinding. The thickness of the strengthened layer ranged from 10 μm to 15 μm, and the degree of strengthening was from 20% to 38% at a depth of 1 μm. Compressive residual stresses occurred in the surface layer. Taking into account the surface layer properties and the effectiveness of surface defect removal, it should be noted that the most beneficial effects were obtained at F = 150 N and f = 0.03 mm/rev. Full article

Model order reduction (MOR) is crucial for efficiently simulating large-scale RLCk models extracted from modern integrated circuits. Among MOR methods, balanced truncation offers strong theoretical error bounds but is computationally intensive and does not preserve passivity. In contrast, moment matching (MM) techniques are widely adopted in industrial tools due to their computational efficiency and ability to preserve passivity in RLCk models. Typically, MM approaches based on the rational Krylov subspace (RKS) are employed to produce reduced-order models (ROMs). However, the quality of the reduction is influenced by the selection of the number of moments and expansion points, which can be challenging to determine. This underlines the need for advanced strategies and reliable convergence criteria to adaptively control the reduction process and ensure accurate ROMs. This article introduces a frequency-aware multi-point MM (MPMM) method that adaptively constructs an RKS by closely monitoring the ROM transfer function. The proposed approach features automatic expansion point selection, local and global convergence criteria, and efficient implementation techniques. Compared to an established MM technique, MPMM achieves up to 16.3× smaller ROMs for the same accuracy, over 99.18% reduction in large-scale benchmarks, and up to 4× faster runtime. These advantages establish MPMM as a strong candidate for integration into industrial parasitic extraction tools. Full article

Soil salinization threatens agriculture by inducing osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and oxidative damage. SnRK2 genes are involved in plant stress responses, but their roles in salt stress response regulation of tobacco remain unclear. Through genome-wide analysis, we identified 54 SnRK2 genes across four Nicotiana species (N. tabacum, N. benthamiana, N. sylvestris, and N. tomentosiformis). Phylogenetic reconstruction clustered these genes into five divergent groups, revealing lineage-specific expansion in diploid progenitors (N. tomentosiformis) versus polyploidy-driven gene loss in N. tabacum. In silico promoter analysis uncovered regulatory networks involving light, hormones, stress, and developmental signals, with prevalent ABA-responsive elements (ABREs) supporting conserved stress-adaptive roles. Structural analysis highlighted functional diversification through variations in intron–exon architecture and conserved kinase motifs. This study provides a genomic atlas of SnRK2 evolution in Nicotiana, offering a foundation for engineering salt-tolerant crops. Full article

Polyembryonic maize, capable of producing multiple seedlings from a single kernel, holds great potential value in agricultural and industrial applications, but the seedling quality needs to be improved. In this study, seedlings of two waxy maize (Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) inbred lines, D35 (a polyembryonic line with twin shoots) and N6110 (single-shoot), exhibited similar relative growth rates during 1 to 5 days post-germination. UPLC-MS/MS profiling of 3- to 5-day-old seedling roots and shoots revealed that H2JA, MeSAG, and IAA-Val-Me were the common differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of the 3-day-old vs. 5-day-old seedlings of D35 and N6110 in the same tissues, and MeSAG, tZ9G, cZROG, and DHZROG were identified in D35 vs. N6110 across the same tissues and the same periods. RNA-seq analyses showed various processes involved in seedling development, including DNA replication initiation, rhythmic processes, the cell cycle, secondary metabolic processes, and hormone biosynthetic regulation. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between D35 and N6110 were significantly enriched in organic hydroxy compound biosynthetic, alcohol biosynthetic, organic hydroxy compound metabolic, abscisic acid biosynthetic, and apocarotenoid biosynthetic processes. The KEGG-enriched pathways of DAMs and DEGs identified that AUX1, AHP, A-ARR, JAR1, SIMKK, ERF1, and GID2 might be conserved genes regulating seedling growth. The integrated analyses revealed that 98 TFs were potentially associated with multiple hormones, and 24 of them were identified to be core genes, including 11 AP2/ERFs, 4 Dofs, 2 bZIPs, 2 MADS-box genes, 2 MYBs, 1 GATA, 1 LOB, and 1 RWP-RK member. This study promotes a valuable understanding of the complex hormone interactions governing twin-shoot seedling growth and offers potential targets for improving crop establishment via seedling quality. Full article

Maintaining a tight RH range for unstable glass is energy- and carbon-intensive. The carbon footprint of several methods for controlling showcases and storerooms, including sorbents, dehumidifiers and sorbents, Miniclima, and RK2, has been measured. Dehumidifiers outperformed Miniclima and RK2 units in control capability, but all three exhibited a higher carbon footprint than passive control methods. However, tailoring the right conditions for the right objects is crucial. The decay of different glass compositions in atmospheric conditions was measured using surface ion swabbing. Conditions below 40% in addition to forced air movement universally slowed deterioration. Formic acid was found to significantly accelerate glass alteration but could be removed using the RK2 unit. Full article

Saline–alkali stress severely inhibited potato growth, yield, and quality, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) played an important role in plant stress resistance. In this study, potato tissue culture seedlings were used as experimental materials, the control group was cultured in the MS medium without adding any substances, and the treatment group was cultured in MS medium supplemented with 50 mmol/L NaHCO₃ or 50 mmol/L NaHCO₃ + 38 µM ABA, respectively. To explore the effect of exogenous ABA on the biological characteristics of potato plants under saline–alkali stress, a genetic improvement strategy was designed based on PP2C (PGSC0003DMT400046381), a key gene of the ABA signaling pathway. The results showed that saline–alkali stress led to leaf greening, wilting, and root development stunting, while exogenous ABA treatment significantly alleviated stress damage. PP2C negatively regulates ABA signaling. SnRK2s are activated when PP2Cs are inactivated during the ABA response. Compared with wild-type CK, it was found that TG lines had increased SOD and POD activities, increased carotenoid and ABA contents, reduced the increase in Na⁺ content and the decrease in K⁺ content, and interfered with PP2C (PGSC0003DMT400046381) to significantly enhance potato salinity–alkali resistance. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical path for the analysis of ABA-mediated plant stress resistance mechanism and the breeding of potato stress resistance varieties. Full article

The WRKY transcription factor family is a significant family of plant transcription factors (TFs). Plant growth and development are often influenced by abiotic factors, such as salinity and low temperature. Numerous studies have demonstrated that WRKY TFs primarily influence plant responses to adversity. However, there are few studies on the role of WRKY genes in the stress responses of Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. We cloned the MbWRKY33 gene from Malus baccata for this research, and its roles in salt stress tolerance were analyzed. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that MbWRKY33 and PbWRKY33 have the highest homology. Subcellular localization revealed that MbWRKY33 was located within the nucleus. An analysis of tissue-specific expression showed that MbWRKY33 had relatively high expression levels in young leaves and roots. Moreover, Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing MbWRKY33 exhibited stronger resistance to salt stress compared with the wild type (WT) and the unloaded line empty vector (UL). Under the treatment of 200 mM NaCl, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants exhibited significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) than the control. In contrast, the WT and the UL lines had elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, MbWRKY33 elevates transgenic plant resistance to salt stress by regulating the expression levels of AtNHX1, AtSOS1, AtSOS3, AtNCED3, AtSnRK2, and AtRD29a. Results indicated that MbWRKY33 in Malus might be linked to high-salinity stress responses, laying a foundation for understanding WRKY TFs’ reaction to such stress. Full article

This study presents a novel application of a hybrid regression–kriging (RK) and machine learning (ML) framework to impute missing tropospheric NO₂ data from the TROPOMI satellite over Taiwan during the winter months of January, February, and December 2022. The proposed approach combines geostatistical interpolation with nonlinear modeling by integrating RK with ML models—specifically comparing gradient boosting regression (GBR), random forest (RF), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN)—to determine the most suitable auxiliary predictor. This structure enables the framework to capture both spatial autocorrelation and complex relationships between NO₂ concentrations and environmental drivers. Model performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (r²), computed against observed TROPOMI NO₂ column values filtered by quality assurance criteria. GBR achieved the highest validation r² values of 0.83 for January and February, while RF yielded 0.82 and 0.79 in January and December, respectively. These results demonstrate the model’s robustness in capturing intra-seasonal patterns and nonlinear trends in NO₂ distribution. In contrast, models using only static land cover inputs performed poorly (r² < 0.58), emphasizing the limited predictive capacity of such variables in isolation. Interpretability analysis using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method revealed temperature as the most influential meteorological driver of NO₂ variation, particularly during winter, while forest cover consistently emerged as a key land-use factor mitigating NO₂ levels through dry deposition. By integrating dynamic meteorological variables and static land cover features, the hybrid RK–ML framework enhances the spatial and temporal completeness of satellite-derived air quality datasets. As the first RK–ML application for TROPOMI data in Taiwan, this study establishes a regional benchmark and offers a transferable methodology for satellite data imputation. Future research should explore ensemble-based RK variants, incorporate real-time auxiliary data, and assess transferability across diverse geographic and climatological contexts. Full article

The release of metformin into the environment poses significant challenges, yet its effects on higher plants remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the impact of metformin exposure on duckweed (Lemna turionifera 5511) across varying concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.16 mg/mL. Our findings revealed that leaves exhibited chlorosis, accompanied by a reduction in biomass, particularly evident at concentrations of 0.1, 0.13, and 0.16 mg/mL of metformin. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis showed that MF exposure reduced photosynthetic performance, indicated by decreased Fv/Fm and Y (II), and increased Y (ND) and NPQ, suggesting impaired photosystem efficiency and altered energy dissipation. Additionally, genes involved in photosynthesis exhibited significantly reduced transcript abundance. Moreover, metformin was found to alter the transcript levels of GH3 and SAUR genes, which are associated with auxin signaling, and increase the expression of SnRK2, a key component of the abscisic acid signaling pathway. These findings shed light on the toxicological effects of metformin on higher plants, providing valuable evidence regarding the toxicity of this pharmaceutical contaminant. Subsequently, we investigated the absorption of metformin by duckweed (0.128 mg/g FW in 7 days) at a concentration of 0.13 mg/mL, observing a gradual decrease in metformin concentration to zero over a period of 10 days. Notably, the optimal adsorption time was determined to be ten days. Hence, duckweed emerges as a promising candidate for the concurrent bioremediation of metformin-contaminated water and the production of high-quality biomass. Full article