Search Results (3,387)

We evaluated the impact of environmental variability on lobster Panulirus argus and Panulirus laevicauda resources in the waters off Brazil and southern Cuba. This study also covered aspects of larval recruitment associated with the availability of fishing resources in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Satellite-generated environmental data were sampled from 18 stations, 6 of which were in the sea off southern Cuba, 6 of which were in the coastal region of Brazil, and 6 of which were offshore near Brazil, covering important lobster fishing grounds and phyllosoma-rich areas of ocean surface circulation along the offshore boundary. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was used to quantify the global ocean–atmosphere variability. Other environmental parameters included in the analysis were the monthly coastal sea levels, surface temperature (SST), salinity, wind/current speed, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, rainfall (RF), and Amazon River discharge (ARD). Variations in the level of puerulus settlement, juveniles, and population harvest in the coastal region of Brazil and Cuba were used to better understand the impact of environmental variability on organisms in their larval stages and their subsequent recruitment to fisheries. The surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, and wind/current patterns were significantly associated with the variability in puerulus settlement. Larger-scale processes (as proxied by the SOI) affected RF, ARD, and sea levels, which reached a maximum during La Niña. As for Brazil, the full-year landings prediction model included Chl-a concentration, SST, RF, and ARD and their association with lobster landings (LLs). The landing predictions for Cuba were based on fluctuations in the Chl-a concentration and SST. Full article

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), shed into bodily fluids by cancer cells through apoptosis, necrosis, or active secretion, is currently used in the field of genomic investigation in clinical settings, primarily for advanced stages of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its potential role in guiding the multi-omic approach to early-stage NSCLC is emerging as a promising area of investigation. Efforts are being made to integrate the genomics not only in surgery, but also in the definition of long-term prognosis after surgical or radiotherapy and for the prediction of recurrence. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, covering publications from 2000 to 2024. Using the advanced search tool, titles and abstracts were filtered based on the following keywords: ctDNA, early stage, NSCLC. From this search, 20 studies that fulfilled all inclusion criteria were selected for analysis in this review. Results: This review highlights the growing body of evidence supporting the potential clinical use of ctDNA as a genomic biomarker in managing early-stage NSCLC. Baseline ctDNA levels offer valuable information about tumor molecular biology and histological characteristics. Beyond its prognostic value before treatment, liquid biopsy has proven useful for tracking minimal residual disease and forecasting recurrence following curative interventions such as surgery or radiotherapy. Future adjuvant treatment decisions may increasingly rely on predictive models that incorporate liquid biopsy findings alongside other clinical factors. Conclusions: The potential use of this analyte introduces new opportunities for the integration of genomic data in treatment, as well as relapse monitoring with more accurate and innovative than traditional methods, particularly in patients with early-stage NSCLC Full article

Turbidite channels are final conduits for the transfer of terrigenous detritus to the deep-sea depositional systems. Studying their morphology and geometric parameters can provide information on density flow characteristics and sedimentary processes, making it an objective and quantitative way to differentiate the deep-sea deposits they feed, which are of special interest to the oil industry. In this work, the morphology is studied, the main geometric parameters are calculated, and the potential sedimentary fill of a turbiditic channel, the Columbretes Grande channel, located on the Ebro continental margin (NW Mediterranean Sea), is reconstructed and visualized in 3D. This complete morphometric analysis shows a concave and smooth channel indicating a profile in equilibrium with local evidence of erosion. Considering the height of the flanks (< 150 m), the existence of well-developed levees, the high sinuosity of some of its reaches, and the relatively low slopes, the channel can be classified as depositional. The sinuosity index is close to 2 in some courses, and the gentle slopes suggest that the fine-grained turbidity currents that episodically circulate in its interior reach the channel’s end. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of hydration heat-induced temperature and stress fields in a U-shaped aqueduct during the casting phase, integrating field measurements and numerical simulations. The key findings are as follows: (1) Thermal Evolution Characteristics: Both experimental and numerical results demonstrated consistent thermal behavior, characterized by a rapid temperature rise, subsequent rapid cooling, and eventual stabilization near ambient conditions. The peak temperature is observed at the centroid of the bearing section’s base slab, reaching 83.8 °C in field tests and 87.0 °C in simulations. (2) Stress Field Analysis: Numerical modeling reveals critical stress conditions in the outer concrete layers within high-temperature zones. The maximum tensile stress reaches 6.37 MPa, exceeding the allowable value of the tensile strength of the current concrete (1.85 MPa) by 244%, indicating a significant risk of thermal cracking. (3) Temperature Gradient and Cooling Rate Anomalies: Both methodologies identify non-compliance with critical control criteria. Internal-to-surface temperature differentials exceed the 25 °C threshold. Daily cooling rates at monitored locations surpass 2.0 °C/d during the initial 5–6 days of the cooling phase, elevating cracking risks associated with excessive thermal gradients. (4) Mitigation Strategy Proposal: Implementation of a hydration heat control system is recommended; compared to single-layer systems, the proposed mid-depth double-layer steel pipe cooling system (1.2 m/s flow) reduced peak temperature by 23.8 °C and improved cooling efficiency by 28.7%. The optimized water circulation maintained thermal balance between concrete and cooling water, achieving water savings and cost reduction while ensuring structural quality. (5) The cooling system proposed in this paper has certain limitations in terms of applicable environment and construction difficulty. Future research can combine with a BIM system to dynamically control the tube cooling system in real time. Full article

Influenza viruses are major threats to global health, with potential to cause widespread disease in both humans and animals. Cattle, once considered resistant, are susceptible hosts for multiple influenza viruses, including influenza A, C and D, while no evidence currently supports infection with influenza B virus. Cattle serve not only as natural reservoirs for influenza D virus but also as emerging spillover hosts for highly pathogenic avian influenza A strains like H5N1. Their role in sustaining viral circulation, facilitating interspecies transmission, and potentially contributing to viral evolution raises significant concerns about future global outbreaks. As host immunity controls viral clearance and spread, understanding how cattle respond to influenza is essential. While most research has focused on antibody-mediated immunity, T cells play indispensable roles in controlling influenza infections by regulating antibody response, clearing infected cells, and providing long-term protection. However, bovine T cell responses to influenza remain poorly characterized. Given that most research has focused on mice and humans, this review outlines current knowledge of bovine T cell responses to influenza viruses in comparison to these well-characterized models. Cross-species comparative studies are essential to identify species-specific immunity, guide cattle vaccine development, and build predictive models to evaluate future pandemic potential. Full article

Understanding the mechanisms and speed of paleo-aridification in the Qaidam Block—driven by tectonic uplift and shifts in atmospheric circulation—provides critical long-term context for assessing modern climate variability and anthropogenic impacts on water resources and desertification. This knowledge is essential for informing sustainable development strategies. We reconstruct the post-Triassic–Jurassic extinction tectonic-climatic evolution of the Qaidam Block on the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau margin through an integrated analysis of sedimentary facies, palynological assemblages, and Chemical Index of Alteration values from Late Triassic to Jurassic strata. The Indo-Eurasian convergence drove the uplift of the East Kunlun Orogen and strike-slip movement along the Altyn Tagh Fault, establishing a basin-range system. During the initial Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period, warm-humid conditions supported gymnosperm/fern-dominated ecosystems and facilitated coal formation. A Middle Jurassic shift from extensional to compressional tectonics coincided with a climatic transition from warm-humid, through cold-arid, to hot-arid states. This aridification, evidenced by a Bathonian-stage surge in drought-tolerant Classopollis pollen and a sharp decline in Chemical Index of Alteration values, intensified in the Late Jurassic due to the Yanshanian orogeny and distal subduction effects. Resultant thrust-strike-slip faulting and southeastward depocenter migration, under persistent aridity and intensified atmospheric circulation, drove widespread development of aeolian dune systems (e.g., Hongshuigou Formation) and arid fluvial-lacustrine environments. The tectonic-climate-ecosystem framework reveals how Jurassic tectonic processes amplified feedback to accelerate aridification. This mechanism provides a critical geological analog for addressing the current sustainability challenges facing the Qaidam Basin. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) affecting swine. ASFV is a large DNA virus with a genome size of 170–190+ kilobases (kB) belonging to the family Asfarviridae, genus Asfivirus. CSFV is a single-stranded RNA virus with a genome size of approximately 12 kB, belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Pestivirus. Outbreaks involving either one of these viruses result in similar disease syndromes and significant economic impacts from: (i) high morbidity and mortality events; (ii) control measures which include culling and quarantine; and (iii) export restrictions of swine and pork products. Current detection methods during an outbreak provide minimal genetic information on the circulating virus strains/genotypes that are important for tracing and vaccine considerations. The increasing availability and reduced cost of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allow for the establishment of NGS protocols for the rapid identification and complete genetic characterization of outbreak strains during an investigation. NGS data provides a better understanding of viral spread and evolution, facilitating the development of novel and effective control measures. In this study, panels of primers spanning the genomes of ASFV and CSFV were independently developed to generate approximately 10 kB and 6 kB amplicons, respectively. The primer panels consisted of 19 primer pairs for ASFV and 2 primer pairs for CSFV, providing whole genome amplification of each pathogen. These primer pools were further optimized for batch pooling and thermocycling conditions, resulting in a total of 5 primer pools/reactions used for ASFV and 2 primer pairs/reactions for CSFV. The ASFV primer panel was tested on viral DNA extracted from blood collected from pigs experimentally infected with ASFV genotype I and genotype II viruses. The CSFV primer panel was tested on 11 different strains of CSFV representing the three known CSFV genotypes, and 21 clinical samples collected from pigs experimentally infected with two different genotype 1 CSF viruses. ASFV and CSFV amplicons from optimized PCR were subsequently sequenced on the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform. The targeted protocols for these viruses resulted in an average coverage greater than 1000X for ASFV, with 99% of the genome covered, and 10,000X–20,000X for CSFV, with 97% to 99% of the genomes covered. The ASFV targeted whole genome sequencing protocol has been optimized for genotype II ASF viruses that have been responsible for the more recent outbreaks outside of Africa. The CSFV targeted whole genome sequencing protocol has universal applications for the detection of all CSFV genotypes. Protocols developed and evaluated here will be essential complementary tools for early pathogen detection and differentiation, as well as genetic characterization of these high-consequence swine viruses, globally and within the United States, should an outbreak occur. Full article

Chronological age is an imprecise proxy for reproductive capacity, necessitating biomarkers that reflect the underlying pathophysiology of the ovary. Fibrotic remodeling of the ovarian stroma is a key hallmark of biological ovarian aging, yet it cannot be assessed by current clinical tools. This study aimed to identify and validate a novel serum biomarker for fibrotic ovarian aging by applying supervised machine learning (ML) to human ovarian transcriptomic data. Transcriptomic data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database were analyzed using ML algorithms to identify candidate genes predictive of ovarian aging, and finally, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and collectin-11 (COLEC11) were selected for clinical validation. In a cross-sectional study, serum levels of FAP and COLEC11, along with key hormonal indices, were measured in two nested patient cohorts, and their associations with ovarian reserve and clinical parameters were analyzed. Serum FAP levels did not correlate with age but showed a strong inverse correlation with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (r = −0.61, p = 0.001), a finding accentuated in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). While COLEC11 correlated with age, it failed to differentiate DOR status. FAP levels were independent of central hormonal regulation, consistent with preclinical fibrotic models. Circulating FAP reflects age-independent, fibrotic ovarian aging, offering stromal-specific information not captured by conventional hormonal markers. This study provides the first clinical validation of FAP as a biomarker for ovarian stromal aging, holding potential for improved reproductive risk assessment. Full article

Infants are at a higher risk of heat-related morbidity and mortality compared to children and adults. However, it remains unclear whether this vulnerability stems from immature thermoregulatory mechanisms or simply from their dependence on caregivers. This narrative review examines current literature on infant thermoregulation during heat exposure and explores how unique physiological characteristics may influence vulnerability. Key differences in infants compared to older individuals include their larger surface area-to-mass ratio, which (1) facilitates heat dissipation when skin temperature exceeds ambient temperature, but compromises heat loss in reversed conditions, and (2) likely enables a large portion of an infant’s blood volume to shift to the skin, promoting heat loss but reducing blood volume in the central circulation. Infants also have a relatively high metabolic heat production. Additionally, their lower sweat output per gland may represent either a limitation or a different thermoregulatory strategy. Contrary to common assumptions, most components of infants’ thermoregulatory system do not appear inherently immature; rather, their distinct physiological characteristics—combined with their reliance on caregivers—shape how and when heat exposure may become harmful. Nevertheless, further research is needed to better understand how these interacting factors influence infants’ ability to maintain stable core temperature. Meanwhile, coordinated efforts by caregivers, health professionals, and policymakers are essential to minimize infants’ heat-related health risks. Full article

Cellular senescence, a state of permanent cell cycle arrest, represents a double-edged sword in biology—providing tumor-suppressive functions while contributing to tissue degeneration, chronic inflammation, and age-related diseases when senescent cells persist. A key driver of senescence is oxidative stress, primarily mediated by excessive reactive oxygen species that damage mitochondrial DNA, modulate redox-sensitive signaling pathways, and trigger the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Emerging evidence highlights the pathogenic role of SASP in promoting local inflammation, immune evasion, and senescence propagation. This review explores the intricate interplay between redox imbalance and cellular senescence, emphasizing mitochondrial dysfunction, SASP dynamics, and their implications in aging and cancer. We discuss current senotherapeutic strategies—including senolytics, senomorphics, antioxidants, gene therapy, and immunotherapy—that aim to eliminate or modulate senescent cells to restore tissue homeostasis. Understanding the heterogeneity and context-specific behavior of senescent cells remains crucial for optimizing these therapies. Future research should focus on addressing key knowledge gaps, including the standardization of senescence biomarkers such as circulating miRNAs, refinement of predictive preclinical models, and development of composite clinical endpoints. These efforts are essential to translate mechanistic insights into effective senotherapeutic interventions and enable the safe integration of senescence-targeting strategies into routine clinical practice. Full article

This article presents a new full-bridge converter with two series-connected transformers (TTFB), designed to meet the hold-up time requirements in power systems. The conventional TTFB topology offers low root mean square (RMS) output current, clamped voltage stress across the primary switches, and zero-voltage switching (ZVS) capability. However, under a wide input voltage range, it suffers from a significant circulating current during the freewheeling period, leading to efficiency degradation. To mitigate this issue, a new converter is proposed by integrating the TTFB with a boost circuit, which operates during the hold-up state when the input voltage drops below the nominal level. Thus, the proposed converter can increase the duty ratio under nominal input voltage conditions, thereby reducing the primary-side RMS current and improving efficiency. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a prototype with a 12 V/400 W output was implemented. The proposed converter achieved a peak efficiency of 92.1% at 50% load, and maintained a higher efficiency across the entire load range compared to the conventional design. Thus, the proposed converter offers a solution for applications demanding extended hold-up time with improved efficiency. Full article

The Beibu Gulf’s ocean circulation system regulates regional marine ecosystems, sediment transport, and coastal geomorphology while also supporting vital economic activities. This study integrates one-year current observations from four in-situ current observation stations (B1−B4) with simulations using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) to characterize circulation dynamics in the gulf. Observations show persistent northward subtidal currents west of Hainan Island year-round, primarily sustained by tidal-induced residual currents. These currents briefly reverse southward during strong northerly wind events, whereas subtidal currents in the northern Beibu Gulf are more wind-dependent, showing pronounced seasonal variations. Numerical results confirm that winter circulation is dominated by a basin-wide cyclonic gyre driven by northeasterly monsoons. In summer, circulation in the northern gulf is cyclonic under southeasterly winds, but turns anticyclonic when southwesterly winds prevail, indicating strong sensitivity to summer monsoon wind direction. By combining multi-station observations and numerical simulations, this study provides a systematic characterization of the seasonal circulation of the oceanic system in the Beibu Gulf, offering new insights into its dynamic mechanisms. Full article

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus that circulates primarily within animal populations and occasionally spills over to humans, causing severe neurological disease. While humans are terminal hosts, veterinary species such as pigs and birds play essential roles in viral amplification and maintenance, making JEV fundamentally a veterinary infectious disease with zoonotic potential. This review summarizes the current understanding of JEV transmission dynamics from a veterinary and ecological perspective, emphasizing the roles of amplifying hosts and animal surveillance in controlling viral circulation. Recent genotype shifts and viral evolution have raised concerns regarding vaccine effectiveness and regional emergence. National surveillance systems and animal-based monitoring strategies are examined for their predictive value in detecting outbreaks early. Veterinary and human vaccination strategies are also reviewed, highlighting the importance of integrated One Health approaches. Advances in modeling and climate-responsive surveillance further underscore the dynamic and evolving landscape of JEV transmission. By managing the infection in animal reservoirs, veterinary interventions form the foundation of sustainable zoonotic disease control. Full article

Climate warming is anticipated to significantly alter the distribution and composition of plant species in the Arctic, thereby cascading through food webs and affecting both associated fauna and entire ecosystems. To elucidate the trend in plant distribution in response to climate change, we employed the MaxEnt model to project the future ranges of 25 representative Arctic and Circumpolar plant species (including grasses and shrubs). Species distribution data, in conjunction with bioclimatic variables derived from climate projections of three selected General Circulation Models (GCMs), ESM2, IPSL, and MPIE, were utilized to fit the MaxEnt models. Subsequently, we predicted the potential distributions of these species under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)—SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585—across a timeline spanning 2010, 2050, 2100, 2200, 2250, and 2300 AD. Range shift indices were applied to quantify changes in plant distribution and range sizes. Our results show that the ranges of nearly all species are projected to diminish progressively over time, with a more pronounced rate of reduction under higher emission scenarios. The species are generally expected to shift northward, with the distances of these shifts positively correlated with both the time intervals from the current state and the intensity of thermal forcing associated with the SSPs. Arctic species (A_Spps) are anticipated to face higher extinction risks compared to Boreal–Arctic species (B_Spps). Additional indices, such as range gain, loss, and overlap, consistently corroborate these patterns. Notably, the peak range shift speeds differ markedly between SSP245 and SSP585, with the latter extending beyond 2100 AD. In conclusion, under all SSPs, A_Spps are generally expected to experience more significant range shifts than B_Spps. In the SSP585 scenario all species are projected to face substantial range reductions, with Arctic species being more severely affected and consequently facing the highest extinction risks. These findings provide valuable insights for developing conservation recommendations for polar plant species and have significant ecological and socioeconomic implications. Full article

With the explosive growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, massive amounts of heterogeneous data are continuously generated. However, IoT data transactions and sharing face multiple challenges such as limited device resources, untrustworthy network environment, highly sensitive user privacy, and serious data silos. How to achieve fine-grained access control and privacy protection for massive devices while ensuring secure and reliable data circulation has become a key issue that needs to be urgently addressed in the current IoT field. To address the above challenges, this paper proposes a blockchain-based data transaction and privacy protection framework. First, the framework builds a multi-layer security architecture that integrates blockchain and IPFS and adapts to the “end–edge–cloud” collaborative characteristics of IoT. Secondly, a data sharing mechanism that takes into account both access control and interest balance is designed. On the one hand, the mechanism uses attribute-based encryption (ABE) technology to achieve dynamic and fine-grained access control for massive heterogeneous IoT devices; on the other hand, it introduces a game theory-driven dynamic pricing model to effectively balance the interests of both data supply and demand. Finally, in response to the needs of confidential analysis of IoT data, a secure computing scheme based on CKKS fully homomorphic encryption is proposed, which supports efficient statistical analysis of encrypted sensor data without leaking privacy. Security analysis and experimental results show that this scheme is secure under standard cryptographic assumptions and can effectively resist common attacks in the IoT environment. Prototype system testing verifies the functional completeness and performance feasibility of the scheme, providing a complete and effective technical solution to address the challenges of data integrity, verifiable transactions, and fine-grained access control, while mitigating the reliance on a trusted central authority in IoT data sharing. Full article