Search Results (32)

Global demands for sustainable energy and advanced therapeutics necessitate innovative interdisciplinary solutions. Integrated biorefining emerges as a strategic response, enabling the co-production of biofuels and pharmaceutical compounds through biomass valorization. This integrated model holds promise in enhancing resource utilization efficiency while ensuring economic viability. Our critical review methodically evaluates seven pivotal methodologies: seven key strategies: microbial metabolites, synthetic biology platforms, biorefinery waste extraction, nanocatalysts, computer-aided design, extremophiles, and plant secondary metabolites. Through systematic integration of these approaches, we reveal pivotal synergies and potential technological innovations that can propel multi-product biorefinery systems. Persistent challenges, particularly in reconciling complex metabolic flux balancing with regulatory compliance requirements, are analyzed. Nevertheless, advancements in systems biology, next-generation bioprocess engineering, and artificial intelligence-enhanced computational modeling present viable pathways for overcoming these obstacles. This comprehensive analysis substantiates the transformative capacity of integrated biorefining in establishing a circular bioeconomy framework, while underscoring the imperative of transdisciplinary cooperation to address existing technical and policy constraints. Full article

The vertical inline pump, a single-stage centrifugal pump with a bent elbow inlet, is widely used in marine engineering. The unique water inlet passage combined with uneven inflow at the impeller inlet tends to form an inlet vortex and secondary flow area, which reduces performance and causes vibration. To predict the performance of the elbow inline pump, this study uses spline curve fitting for the centerline and cross-sectional shape of the elbow passage. With four elbow inlet variables from experimental design as the input layer and targeting efficiency under pump operating conditions, a pump performance prediction model based on an improved sand cat swarm optimization algorithm combined with a BP neural network (MSCSO-BP) is proposed. Six test functions are used to effectively test the improved sand cat swarm optimization algorithm. The results show that compared to the unimproved algorithm, the improved algorithm has significantly faster convergence speed, shorter parameter optimization time, and higher accuracy. For more demanding multidimensional test functions, the improved optimization algorithm can more accurately find the optimal solution, enhancing the prediction accuracy and generalization ability of inline pump performance. This provides a more effective engineering solution for the design and optimization of inline pumps. Full article

Zirconium alloys are essential materials for nuclear fuel cladding. During a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), zirconium alloy cladding can oxidize in high-temperature steam (>1000 °C), generating hydrogen and releasing significant heat. Without timely emergency actions, this can result in hydrogen explosions or nuclear leakage. In this study, titanium nitride (TiN), chromium (Cr), and TiN–Cr composite coatings were deposited on the surface of Zr-4 alloy using the magnetron sputtering method. The coatings’ surface and cross-sectional morphologies were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their phase structures were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties were evaluated using scratch tests, and their resistance to high-temperature steam oxidation was tested in a tube furnace connected to a steam generator. The results showed that the TiN, Cr, and TiN–Cr coatings exhibited strong adhesion to the Zr-4 substrates, with distinct interfaces and pure phase structures. After high-temperature steam oxidation, cracks appeared on the surfaces of the TiN, Cr, and TiN–Cr coatings, likely due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of TiO₂, Cr₂O₃, and residual Cr layers. These cracks created pathways for the oxidizing medium, potentially leading to the oxidation of the substrate or inner layers of the composite coatings. For the Cr and TiN–Cr coatings, despite cracking of the Cr layer and melting of the TiN layer at high temperatures, the residual Cr layer effectively restricted oxygen diffusion into the Zr-4 substrate. This study suggests that layers with low melting points, such as TiN, are unsuitable for composite coatings in high-temperature applications. However, adding a Cr layer on top of the TiN layer to form a TiN–Cr composite coating improves adhesion between the coating and the substrate. The TiN–Cr composite coating functions as an effective diffusion barrier at temperatures up to 1200 °C, comparable to a pure Cr coating. Full article

As climate challenges intensify, architectural design must reconcile energy efficiency with environmental adaptation. This study investigates how two skywell geometries in Kunming’s traditional One-Seal dwellings (Yikeyin) optimize seasonal thermal and ventilation performance. Combining field analysis and simulations, a comparative analysis of skywell depth-to-width ratios reveals that larger proportions enhance summer airflow but exacerbate winter heat loss, while smaller ratios stabilize winter conditions. Vertical thermal stratification highlights distinct microclimates across floors, with skywells exhibiting pronounced seasonal fluctuations. The findings affirm the climate-responsive intelligence embedded in vernacular architecture, demonstrating its relevance for contemporary sustainable design. By bridging traditional wisdom and modern green building practices, this work advances strategies for climate-resilient architecture and rural habitat enhancement, prioritizing both ecological balance and human comfort. Full article

Ecological intensification of agriculture is crucial for sustainable food production, yet the complex soil-microbial interactions in integrated farming systems remain poorly understood. This five-year study compared a Rice-Loach-Shrimp (RLS) integrated system with conventional Rice Monoculture (RM) using advanced multivariate techniques, including correlation analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Random Forest modeling, and Structural Equation Modeling. The RLS system exhibited higher values for key soil health indicators compared to RM, although the overall correlation patterns were similar. Stronger correlations among soil organic matter, enzyme activities, and microbial populations were observed in RLS, suggesting a more tightly coupled soil ecosystem. Available phosphorus and soil organic matter were identified as primary drivers of microbial community structure. The RLS system showed a slightly higher mean pH and weaker correlations between pH and other indicators compared to RM, indicating potential altered biogeochemical processes. Complex cascading effects among soil properties, enzyme activities, and microbial populations were revealed in RLS. These soil health benefits persisted throughout the study period, demonstrating the potential of RLS as an effective ecological intensification strategy for sustainable rice production. Full article

Population is the main driver of land-system and environmental change. However, population is usually treated as a variable that only considers the population number, and multi-dimensional population structure is largely ignored. There has been a systematic transition of population structure in the past several decades, including changes in household structure, increasing aging populations, increasing divorce rates, and increasing human migration. All of these changes have direct or indirect impacts on land use and environmental issues. Here, taking China as an example and using statistical analysis, namely the Mann–Kendall trend test and a land-use-transition matrix, we examine the relationship between household dynamics and land-use change in China by examining changes in household structure and land-use changes in China between 1980 and 2020. The results show the following three groups of findings. (1) The number of households increased by 130.95% from 1980 to 2020, while the population only increased by 42.83%; the size of households decreased from 4.41 to 2.62 in China from 1982 to 2020; and the household dynamics varied from province to province, which is affected by urbanization rate and economic development. (2) Birth rates, divorce rates, population aging, and migration all affect household structure, which directly or indirectly affect changes in land-use systems. (3) The changes in China’s land use are interlinked and interact with changes in household structure, which is evident in the increase in Residential land use and the abandonment of arable land. The rising household number increased the area of urban and rural settlement, leading to the fragmentation of cultivated land and the reduction of ecological land. To regulate land-use change for sustainable development, future land-use planning should take into account the effect of household dynamics and should reduce the negative effects of household dynamics on land systems and environmental change. Full article

BaSi_xO_1+2x (1.61 ≤ x ≤ 1.90) and LiF-doped BaSi_1.63O_4.26 ceramics were prepared by using a traditional solid-state method at the optimal sintering temperatures. The evolution of phase compositions of BaSi_xO_1+2x (1.61 ≤ x ≤ 1.9) ceramics was revealed. The coexistence of Ba₅Si₈O₂₁ and Ba₃Si₅O₁₃ phases was obtained in BaSi_xO_1+2x (1.61 ≤ x ≤ 1.67) ceramics. The BaSi₂O₅ phase appeared inBaSi_xO_1+2x (1.68 ≤ x ≤ 1.90) ceramics. At 1.68 ≤ x ≤ 1.69, only BaSi₂O₅ and Ba₃Si₅O₁₃ phases existed. With the further increase in x, the Ba₅Si₈O₂₁ phase appeared, and BaSi₂O₅, Ba₅Si₈O₂₁ and Ba₃Si₅O₁₃ phases coexisted in BaSi_xO_1+2x (1.70 ≤ x ≤ 1.90) ceramics. The phase compositions of BaSi_xO_1+2x (1.61 ≤ x ≤ 1.90) ceramics were controlled by the ratio of Ba:Si. The BaSi_xO_1+2x (x = 1.68) ceramics with 98.15 wt% Ba₃Si₅O₁₃ and 1.85 wt% BaSi₂O₅ phases exhibited a negative τ_f value (−37.53 ppm/°C), and the good microwave dielectric properties of ε_r = 7.51, Q × f = 13,038 GHz and τ_f = +3.95 ppm/°C were obtained for BaSi_1.63O_4.26 ceramics with 70.05 wt% Ba₅Si₈O₂₁ and 29.95 wt% Ba₃Si₅O₁₃ phases. The addition of LiF sintering aids were able to reduce the sintering temperatures of BaSi_1.63O_4.26 ceramics to 800 °C. The phase composition of BaSi_1.63O_4.26 ceramics was affected by the sintering temperature, and the coexistence of Ba₅Si₈O₂₁, Ba₂Si₃O₈, BaSi₂O₅ and SiO₂ phases was achieved in BaSi_1.63O_4.26-3 wt% LiF ceramics. The BaSi_1.63O_4.26-3 wt% LiF ceramics sintered at 800 °C exhibited dense microstructures and excellent microwave dielectric properties (ε_r = 7.10, Q × f = 12,463 GHz and τ_f = +5.75 ppm/°C), and no chemical reaction occurred between BaSi_1.63O_4.26-3 wt% LiF ceramics and the Ag electrodes, which indicates their potential for low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) applications. Full article

Tyre wear particle emissions have gained significant attention due to their harmful effects on the environment and human health. However, studies on tyre wear particles generated under chassis dynamometer conditions are still scarce. This study measures the instantaneous number concentrations and elemental species of tyre wear particles in different light-duty vehicle test cycles. The results show that the particle number (PN) concentrations of the US06 test cycle are much higher than those of the WLTC test cycle due to the larger and more frequent accelerations and decelerations in the former. High PN concentrations are observed during high driving speeds with rapid accelerations, while PN concentrations are much lower during low driving speed with rapid acceleration. Furthermore, tyre tread temperature is found to be related to the formation of tyre wear particles. The PN concentration in the second and third US06 test cycles are similar, indicating that once the tyre temperature exceeds the critical value, the tyres become heated to a steady state, and the PN concentrations will not be affected by the average temperature of the tyre. A low initial tyre temperature can produce high PN concentrations during the cold start phase of test cycles and prolong the time required for tyres to warm up. In addition, the particles contained a high mass fraction of Zn, which can serve as a tracer of tyre wear particles in non-exhaust particle tests of vehicles. Full article

Venous thrombus embolism (VTE) is common after polytrauma, both of which are considered significant contributors to poor outcomes and mortality. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized as an independent risk factor for VTE and one of the most common components of polytraumatic injuries. Few studies have assessed the impact of TBI on the development of VTE in polytrauma patients. This study sought to determine whether TBI further increases the risk for VTE in polytrauma patients. A retrospective, multi-center trial was performed from May 2020 to December 2021. The occurrence of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism from injury to 28 days after injury was observed. Of 847 enrolled patients, 220 (26%) developed DVT. The incidence of DVT was 31.9% (122/383) in patients with polytrauma with TBI (PT + TBI group), 22.0% (54/246) in patients with polytrauma without TBI (PT group), and 20.2% (44/218) in patients with isolated TBI (TBI group). Despite similar Glasgow Coma Scale scores, the incidence of DVT in the PT + TBI group was significantly higher than in the TBI group (31.9% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.01). Similarly, despite no difference in Injury Severity Scores between the PT + TBI and PT groups, the DVT rate was significantly higher in the PT + TBI group than in the PT group (31.9% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.01). Delayed anticoagulant therapy, delayed mechanical prophylaxis, older age, and higher D-dimer levels were independent predictive risk factors for DVT occurrence in the PT + TBI group. The incidence of PE within the whole population was 6.9% (59/847). Most patients with PE were in the PT + TBI group (64.4%, 38/59), and the PE rate was significantly higher in the PT + TBI group compared to the PT (p < 0.01) or TBI (p < 0.05) group. In conclusion, this study characterizes polytrauma patients at high risk for VTE occurrence and emphasizes that TBI markedly increases the incidence of DVT and PE in polytrauma patients. Delayed anticoagulant therapy and delayed mechanical prophylaxis were identified as the major risk factors for a higher incidence of VTE in polytrauma patients with TBI. Full article

Long-term intensive use of mineral fertilizers in double rice-cropping systems has led to soil acidification and soil degradation. Manure fertilization was suggested as an alternative strategy to mitigate soil degradation. However, the effects of long-term mineral and manure fertilization on rice grain yield, yield stability, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil total nitrogen (TN) content, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Based on a long-term experiment established in 1981 in southern China, we compared four treatments: no fertilizer application (Control); application of nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK); NPK plus green manure in early rice (M1); and M1 plus farmyard manure in late rice and rice straw return in winter (M2). Our results showed that 37 years of NPK, M1, and M2 significantly increased rice grain yield by 54%, 46%, and 72%, and yield stability by 22%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. M1 and M2 significantly increased SOC content by 39% and 23% compared to Control, respectively, whereas there was no difference between Control and NPK. Regarding soil TN content, it was significantly increased by 8%, 46%, and 20% by NPK, M1, and M2, respectively. In addition, M2 significantly increased bacterial OTU richness by 68%, Chao1 index by 79%, and altered the bacterial community composition. Changes in soil nutrient availability and bacterial Simpson index were positively correlated with the changes in grain yield, while shifts in bacterial community were closely related to yield stability. This study provides pioneer comprehensive assessments of the simultaneous responses of grain yield, yield stability, SOC and TN content, nutrient availability, and bacterial community composition to long-term mineral and manure fertilization in a double rice-cropping system. Altogether, this study spanning nearly four decades provides new perspectives for developing sustainable yet intensive rice cultivation to meet growing global demands. Full article

This work utilizes the anthraquinone (AQ) database to identify potential inhibitors of the RIPK1 protein for developing medicines targeting AP-associated necroptosis. Screening for necroptosis-related genes that play a crucial role in AP is based on the GEO and GSEA databases. An optimum AQ for receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) inhibition was virtually screened using the Discovery Studio 2019 tool, with a previously described RIPK1 inhibitor (necrostatin-1) as a reference ligand. Using LibDock and CDOCKER molecular docking, an AQ that robustly binds to RIPK1 was identified. The DOCKTHOR web server was used to calculate the ligand–receptor binding energy. The pharmacological properties and toxicity of potential AQ were evaluated using the ADME module and ProTox-II web server. The stability of ligand–receptor complexes was examined using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. All 12 AQs showed solid binding activity to RIPK1, 5 of which were superior to necrostatin-1. Rheochrysin and Aloe-Emodin-8-O-Beta-D-Glucopyranoside (A8G) were safe RIPK1 inhibitors based on pharmacological characterization and toxicity studies. Additionally, the potential energy of the candidate AQs with RIPK1 was greater than that of the reference ligand, necrostatin-1. MD simulations also showed that the candidate AQs could bind stably to RIPK1 in the natural environment. Rheochrysin and A8G are safe and effective anthraquinones that inhibit the RIPK1 protein. This research takes a first step toward developing RIPK1 inhibitors by screening AQs that have the potential to be more effective than the reference ligand necrostatin-1. Full article

Chinese Shitou goose is a type of large goose with high meat yield. Understanding the genetic regulation of muscle development in Shitou goose would be beneficial to improve the meat production traits of geese. Muscle development is regulated by genes related to myoblast proliferation and differentiation. In this study, the RNA-seq method was used to construct the mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles of Shitou goose myoblasts and myotubes. A total of 1664 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 244 DE-lncRNAs were identified. The alternative mRNA splicing in proliferation and differentiation stages was also analyzed. Notably, pathways enriched in DE-mRNAs, DE-splicing transcripts, and DE-lncRNAs all point to the Wnt signaling pathway, indicating that the Wnt signaling is a key regulatory pathway of muscle development in Shitou goose. We also constructed the interactive network of DE-lncRNAs and DE-mRNAs and revealed some key genes of lncRNAs regulating the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. These results provide new insights for the study of the muscle development of the Shitou goose. Full article

For a long time, the epidemic situation of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantavirus (HV) in Yunnan Province of China has been relatively severe. The molecular epidemiology and host characteristics of HV in Yunnan Province are still not completely clear, and the systematic and long-term investigation of the epidemic area is very limited. In this study, a total of 488 murine-shaped animals were captured in the three regions of Mile City, Mangshi City and Lianghe County in Yunnan Province, and then the type of HV was identified by multiplex real-time RT-PCR and sequenced. The results indicate that 2.46% of the murine-shaped animal specimens were infected with HV. A new subtype of Seoul virus (SEOV) was found in the rare rat species Rattus nitidus in Lianghe County, and the two strains of this new subtype were named YNLH-K40 and YNLH-K53. Through the phylogenetic analysis of this new subtype, it is shown that this new subtype is very similar to the type S5 of SEOV, which is previously described as the main cause for the high incidence of HFRS in Longquan City, Zhejiang Province, China. This new subtype is highly likely to cause human infection and disease. Therefore, in addition to further promoting the improvement of the HV gene database and strengthening the discovery and monitoring of the host animals in Yunnan Province, more attention should be paid to the pathogenic potential of the newly discovered HV type. Full article

There is an increasing demand for remote monitoring and management of agricultural machinery operation in conservation tillage. Considering the problems of large errors in detecting operation quality parameters, such as tillage depth and corn straw cover rate, in complex farmland environments, this paper proposes a tillage depth measurement method based on the dual attitude compound of a tractor body and three-point hitch mechanism with lower pull rod and an online measurement method based on K-means clustering of the corn straw cover rate on farmland surface. An operation monitoring terminal was developed for the remote collection of quality parameters of conservation tillage field operation. A remote monitoring system of agricultural machinery operation was constructed and applied over a large area. The field tests showed that the static mean error and root-mean-square error of this method were 0.16 and 0.67 cm for uphill and 0.36 and 0.57 cm for downhill, respectively. For the 28 and 33 cm tillage depth tests, the mean dynamic measurement errors of this method were 0.55 and 0.61 cm, and the root means square errors were 0.64 and 0.73 cm, respectively, and the coefficient of variation of tillage depth did not exceed 3%. The correlation coefficient between the corn straw cover rate detection algorithm based on K-means clustering and the manual image marking method reached 0.92, with an average error of 9.69%, and the accuracy filled the demand for straw cover rate detection. The detection accuracy of tillage depth and straw cover rate was high and thus provides an effective means of information technology support for the quality monitoring and production management of conservation tillage farming operations. Full article

Thermosensitive hydrogel scaffolds have attracted particular attention in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. It is very necessary to develop a type of thermosensitive hydrogel material with low shrinkage, and excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Here, five types of thermosensitive microgels with different volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) or particle sizes were first synthesized using 2-methyl-2-propenoic acid-2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl ester (MEO₂MA) and oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) as thermosensitive monomers by free radical polymerization. Their VPTT and particle sizes were investigated by a nanometer particle size meter and an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The feasibility of using these P(OEGMA-co-MEO₂MA) microgels to construct thermosensitive hydrogel by means of the thermal induction method is discussed for the first time. The prepared thermosensitive hydrogel with the optimum performance was screened for in situ embedding and three-dimensional (3D) culture of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The experimental results of AO/EB and MTT methods indicate that the pioneering scaffold material has prominent biocompatibility, and cells grow rapidly in the 3D scaffold and maintain high proliferative capacity. At the same time, there is also a tendency to aggregate to form multicellular spheres. Therefore, this original P(OEGMA-co-MEO₂MA) thermosensitive hydrogel can serve as a highly biocompatible and easily functionalized 3D cell culture platform with great potential in the biomedical area. Full article