Search Results (3,687)

Fowl adenoviruses are opportunistic emerging viruses that spread widely in fowls, infecting birds of all ages, including young broiler chicks. This study aims to genotype the current adenovirus strains associated with inclusion body hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome (IBH-HPS) among infected broilers in Upper Egypt and to evaluate their pathogenic features. In 2024, 100 tissue samples were collected across Assiut and Sohag governorates in Upper Egypt for genetic characterization and pathogenicity evaluation. FAdVs were detected in 22% (11/50) of flocks. Typical FAdV lesions of dead embryos were observed after seven days post egg inoculation. Regarding the PCR assay of the hexon gene, only 8 of 30 samples were confirmed positive at 897 bp, yielding a 26.6% positivity rate. The remaining samples were considered negative using established RT-qPCR protocols for other viral pathogens. Partial sequencing of the hexon gene revealed that FAdV isolates (n = 4) clustered within FAdV species-D serotype 2/11, as determined by phylogenetic analysis. The four isolates shared (98–99%) and (94–100%) nucleotide and amino-acid similarities to FAdV-D of Israeli strains (2019–2020) and contemporary Egyptian isolates (2022), respectively, and low genetic divergence (54–81%) in comparison with other documented species. The amino acid sequence alignment and 3D structure indicate that the four immunogenic HVRs are located in the L1 region of the hexon protein, and that the highly conserved ⁹¹GQMTT⁹⁵, a specific region for FAdV-D serotype 2/11, is present. Regarding pathogenicity, the gross and histopathological findings observed clearly demonstrate the systemic pathogenicity of FAdV-2/11 in the infected group, with a final mortality rate of 30% at seven days post-infection (dpi). The FAdV DNA in hepatic tissues and cloacal swabs was confirmed by the PCR method at 3 dpi and 5 dpi. These results emphasize the circulating of FAdV-2/11 species D in Upper Egypt and highlight the significant need for a single inactivated vaccine that effectively targets the relevant FAdV serotypes to achieve broader and more efficient protection. Full article

Understanding the Holocene environmental history of desert landscapes in northern China contributes to elucidating the mechanisms driving desertification in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (NH). Based on a systematic and comparative analysis on integrated paleoclimatic data from both China and the international community, this paper reviews the environmental evolution history of the Alashan Plateau since the Holocene, drawing upon sedimentary and proxy records from three major sandy deserts on the plateau—the Badanjilin, Tenggeli, Wulanbuhe Deserts. The results indicate that the Alashan Plateau experienced generally humid conditions during the early and middle Holocene, characterized by the development of high-level lakes; in contrast, the late Holocene was marked by aridity and intensified aeolian activity. For the three deserts on the plateau, the environmental evolution of the Tenggeli Desert during the early Holocene diverges from that of the other two. Meanwhile, the mid-Holocene drought event in the Badanjilin Deserts remains debated, centering on whether its spatial scale was local or regional across the plateau. The driving mechanism of environmental evolution in the study area can be fundamentally understood through the atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems, combined with solar insolation in the middle latitudes of NH. This interplay is comprehensively reflected by the interactions between the westerlies and the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) across different periods. Responses of the Alashan Plateau’s climate to global change involve the combined effects of multiple factors, including the Westerlies, the EASM, the Atlantic-Pacific-Ocean (APO) circulation anomalies, the ‘third polar’ environmental effect of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and the hydrological influence of the Yellow River, etc. The Holocene environmental evolution history of the study area was primarily shaped by climate patterns characterized by cold-dry and cold–wet (or temperate-moist) regimes. Understanding these patterns may provide insights for forecasting future climate trends in the Alashan Plateau under current global warming. Full article

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has long stood as the prevailing standard in drug delivery, celebrated for its capacity to enhance solubility, extend circulation, and improve pharmacological performance. Nevertheless, the emergence of anti-PEG antibodies, accelerated clearance, and limited biodegradability increasingly undermine its role as a universal solution. In response, a new generation of polymers has been developed to address these shortcomings, offering the potential to sustain or surpass PEG’s benefits while mitigating immunogenicity, improving biocompatibility, and enabling finer control over therapeutic fate. This review examines current research to articulate a coherent perspective on the replacement of PEG, tracing how advances in polymer design are reshaping the foundations of targeted drug delivery. Taken together, these developments signal not only a corrective to the limitations of PEG but also a broader paradigm shift toward safer, more versatile, and clinically translatable systems that define the next frontier in precision therapeutics. Full article

Background: Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive malignancy driven by complex interactions between tumor cells and the host immune system. Tumor progression is shaped not only by intrinsic tumor characteristics but also by immune-mediated processes within the tumor microenvironment. Cytokines, particularly interleukins, are key regulators of inflammation, immune cell recruitment, and tumor behavior. Cytokine profiling provides an integrated assessment of soluble immune mediators from tumor and stromal cells, reflecting both local and systemic immune responses. Methods: This narrative review summarizes and synthesizes the current literature addressing the biological and clinical relevance of selected interleukins, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-2, IL-17, and IL-18, in cutaneous melanoma. Published data were evaluated with a focus on their immunomodulatory functions and potential implications for prognostic assessment. Results: Interleukins demonstrated distinct and context-dependent prognostic and predictive relevance in cutaneous melanoma. Elevated IL-2 levels correlated with sentinel lymph node positivity, supporting its prognostic value in early disease. Increased circulating IL-6 and IL-8 were consistently associated with tumor burden, advanced disease, and reduced survival. IL-10 expression reflected tumor progression and immune modulation. IL-17 signatures predicted response to combined immune checkpoint inhibition, particularly in BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. IL-18 exhibited dual roles, associating with both immune activation and favorable outcomes depending on tumor context. Conclusions: Interleukin profiling offers a biologically relevant framework for understanding immune regulation in cutaneous melanoma. Integrating interleukin signatures into prognostic models may support more refined risk stratification and advance the implementation of personalized medicine approaches in melanoma management. Full article

Parallel inverter systems constitute the fundamental units of AC microgrids and distributed renewable energy generation systems, wherein accurate power sharing among units represents a critical challenge for stable operation. Conventional droop control fails to share the harmonic power in proportionality to the capacity of inverters due to disparities on line impedance, leading to circulating currents, degraded power quality, and reduced system load capability. To address these issues, this paper proposes a harmonic power-sharing control strategy based on perturbative virtual impedance injection. Under the premise that fundamental power sharing according to capacity ratios has been ensured, the strategy first converts the harmonic power information of each inverter into a small-signal perturbation, which is injected into the virtual impedance of its fundamental control loop. Subsequently, by detecting the resulting variations in fundamental power coefficients induced by this perturbation, a closed-loop feedback is constructed to adaptively adjust the virtual impedance value of each inverter at harmonic frequencies. This adjustment enables the automatic matching of the harmonic power distribution ratio to the inverter capacity ratio, ultimately achieving precise harmonic power sharing. The proposed strategy operates without requiring inter-unit communication links or sampling the voltage at the common coupling point, relying solely on local information, thereby enhancing system reliability. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in achieving harmonic power sharing under conditions of line impedance mismatch is validated through an RT-LAB hardware-in-the-loop platform. Full article

The grading of beef appearance quality is crucial for standardizing market circulation and promoting the upgrading of the beef cattle industry. China’s current beef quality grading system, which relies primarily on human sensory-based visual assessment with marbling and meat color as core parameters, suffers from strong subjectivity, low efficiency, and large errors. This study proposes a rapid grading method for beef rib eye muscle using smartphone imaging combined with ImageJ software. Standardized images were acquired, and ImageJ was employed for grayscale conversion, threshold segmentation, and morphological processing to extract length, width, area, and marbling proportion. The R, G, B color channels were separated to calculate the R/(R + G + B) color ratio. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the ImageJ results were highly consistent with manual measurements (correlation coefficients > 0.97), indicating good reliability. A five-level grading standard (A1–A5) was established, characterized by low cost, simple operation, and objective results. It provides an economical technical solution for beef quality grading and facilitates the intelligent development of the industry. It should be noted that this experimental grading model has only been validated under the specific experimental conditions of this study, and further verification is required for broader application. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aberrant metabolism in tumors exacerbates the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The immunosuppressive metabolite kynurenine inhibits the activation of effector T cells. Current antitumor drugs targeting kynurenine focus on small molecule inhibitors, which exhibit suboptimal efficacy in suppressing kynurenine generation owing to the diversity of kynurenine synthesis pathways. In contrast, kynureninase (KYNase) can directly metabolize kynurenine regardless of the production source. However, its delivery is hindered by short blood-circulation half-life and poor tumor accumulation. Additionally, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported to synergize with immunotherapy, suggesting a potential combinatorial photodynamic immunometabolic cancer therapy with KYNase. Methods: A KYNase-Fc fusion protein was prepared to prolong blood circulation and enhance tumor accumulation of KYNase. Meanwhile, KYNase-Fc served as a nanocarrier for photosensitizer pheophorbide A (PhA) due to the high binding affinity between KYNase-Fc and PhA. Through self-assembly, KYNase-Fc/PhA nanoparticles (KYNase-Fc/PhA NPs) were prepared without extra carrier materials. Results: Compared with the PEGylated KYNase, KYNase-Fc exhibited significantly prolonged blood circulation, enhanced tumor accumulation and effective tumor suppression. Moreover, the prepared KYNase-Fc/PhA NPs facilitated rapid PhA tumor accumulation. The combined photodynamic immunometabolic therapy alleviated the immunosuppressive microenvironment and significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous 4T1 tumors in mice. Conclusions: KYNase-Fc offered a carrier-free nanomedicine for co-delivery of PhA for photodynamic immunometabolic antitumor therapy with enhanced efficacy, providing a promising platform for clinical translation. Full article

Bluetongue (BT) is a noncontagious, arthropod-borne viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by bluetongue virus (BTV), an arbovirus of the Orbivirus genus within the Sedoreoviridae family. At least 36 serotypes have been identified globally; recurrent circulation of BTV-1, -4, and -8, along with the recent emergence of BTV-3 in northern Europe, underscores a persistent incursion risk for Mediterranean herds. Key drivers include climate-driven expansion of Culicoides vector niches, windborne dispersal, animal movements, and subclinical reservoirs in cattle and goats. As no specific treatment is currently available, control of bluetongue disease still relies largely on vaccination. Live-attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines have reduced incidence, but important limitations persist: risk of reversion and the possibility of reassortment for LAVs; requirement for multiple doses and limited cross-protection for inactivated products; and the absence of DIVA capability for both. As an alternative, next-generation platforms are under active evaluation. Subunit formulations, often VP2 combined with VP5 and/or NS1/NS2 virus-like particles (VLPs), and viral-vectored constructs demonstrate favorable safety, strong humoral and cellular responses, inherent or engineered DIVA compatibility, and potential for rapid updating against emergent serotypes. This review synthesizes recent bluetongue activity across the Mediterranean Basin and provides a critical assessment of both existing and emerging vaccine strategies, with a focus on recommending next-generation platforms that emphasize DIVA-compliant, multiserotype, and adaptable vaccination approaches, supported by integrated surveillance and vector control in the region. Full article

The three-phase four-leg (3P4L) parallel-inverter system has been increasingly applied in the field of new energy power generation due to its capability of feeding single-phase loads. However, zero-sequence circulating current (ZSCC) can jeopardize the stable operation of the parallel-inverter system. To address this issue, this paper proposes a ZSCC suppression strategy based on the coordination of Model Predictive Control (MPC) and an improved 3D-SVPWM technique. Firstly, an overall methodology is established by introducing a regulation factor into each switching cycle of the inverter modulation. This introduction enables flexible adjustment of the zero-sequence duty cycle difference between the two inverters, laying the foundation for ZSCC suppression. Secondly, the MPC algorithm is applied to construct a transfer function model of the parallel system incorporating the regulation factor. Closed-loop feedback of ZSCC is introduced, using the deviation between the actual ZSCC and zero as the cost function, and the zero-vector duty cycle adjustment margin as the constraint. The optimal regulation factor is calculated and injected into the improved 3D-SVPWM. Through receding horizon optimization within MPC, disturbances are actively predicted and compensated, achieving precise ZSCC suppression. Finally, simulation results based on Matlab and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Full article

Liver fibrosis (LF) is the final common pathological outcome of various chronic liver diseases. Advanced LF can progress to severe complications, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, liver transplantation remains the main clinical treatment for advanced LF, but its application is limited by donor availability and unavoidable complications. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanoscale particles actively released by hepatic cells, including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and macrophages), circulate in bodily fluids carrying cell-specific cargoes (e.g., RNAs, proteins). EVs mediate intercellular communication via their specific cargo profiles and contribute to the progression in LF. Increasing evidence indicates that tracking changes in the quantity and composition of EVs in LF can aid in disease diagnosis and prognosis prediction. This review discusses the pathological role of EVs in LF development and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and provides new perspectives for future research and treatment advances. Full article

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a critical pathogen affecting the global cattle industry, causing severe economic losses primarily through persistent infection, immunosuppression, and reproductive failure. The virus exhibits substantial genetic diversity, with marked geographic variation in circulating subtypes, which complicates effective disease control. BVDV evades host immune responses by suppressing type I interferon signaling, impairing neutrophil function, and reprogramming host cellular metabolism, ultimately leading to the generation of persistently infected (PI) animals that serve as the principal reservoir for viral transmission. Current prevention and control strategies rely mainly on the identification and elimination of PI animals in combination with vaccination. However, conventional vaccines, including inactivated vaccines (IVs) and modified live vaccines (MLVs), have notable limitations, such as suboptimal subtype matching, interference by maternal antibodies, and safety concerns associated with MLV use in pregnant cattle. Emerging vaccine platforms, including mRNA vaccines, subunit vaccines, and multi-epitope vaccines, offer promising alternatives owing to their improved safety profiles, rapid design and production, and potential to elicit broad and robust immune responses. Future BVDV vaccine development should integrate artificial intelligence-driven design strategies with high-throughput sequencing and molecular epidemiological surveillance to enable the rational development of multivalent and multi-epitope vaccines. In addition, coordinated implementation of strain monitoring, PI animal clearance, and enhanced biosecurity practices will be essential for establishing a comprehensive and sustainable BVDV prevention and control framework. Full article

COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is clinically defined by persistent symptoms that endure beyond acute infection and affect multiple organ systems, including the immune, cardiopulmonary, neurological, and metabolic axes. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly resolved, limiting the development of targeted diagnostics and therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, control inflammatory networks, antiviral responses, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and fibrotic pathways, all of which are implicated in long COVID pathogenesis. Recent studies show durable changes in circulating miRNA signatures months after recovery from the acute phase, suggesting a role in maintaining chronic immune activation and metabolic dysfunction. Importantly, circulating miRNAs are stable, quantifiable in biofluids, and reflect systems-level dysregulation, positioning them as promising biomarker candidates for patient stratification, symptom clustering, and disease monitoring. Moreover, miRNA-directed interventions, such as mimics and antagomiRs, represent an emerging precision-medicine strategy to correct sustained molecular disturbances. This review summarizes current evidence linking miRNAs to long COVID, highlights their biomarker potential, and discusses therapeutic avenues that may help advance mechanism-based interventions for this globally emerging chronic condition. Full article

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a compelling alternative to the dominant linear “take–make–waste” model, which has contributed to environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and social inequalities across global value chains. By emphasizing the reduction in waste, the circulation of products and materials at their highest value, and the regeneration of natural systems, CE offers a pathway toward more sustainable and resilient forms of production and consumption. Despite its growing prominence, organizational implementation of CE remains uneven and challenging. This paper synthesizes current developments on CE implementation in business, with particular attention to environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Building on this synthesis, the paper identifies key internal and external challenges and proposes a practical framework outlining seven transition steps for organizations, ranging from strategic commitment and governance to monitoring and continuous improvement. Two case vignettes from the consumer goods and fashion industries illustrate how firms implement circular principles through business model innovation, supply-chain collaboration, and consumer engagement, while also highlighting ongoing limitations and trade-offs. Overall, the paper demonstrates that while the transition to a circular economy is complex, it is achievable through coordinated organizational change, stakeholder involvement, and systemic innovation, offering benefits for businesses, society, and the environment. Full article

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in all branches of the media system and has transformed the way specialists in this field work in recent years. Currently, applications of artificial intelligence are used across a range of processes involved in the production, editing, distribution, and consumption of media content. These include technologies such as generative chatbots, automated transcription, writing, translation, and editing tools, as well as applications for image and video creation. All of these types of applications have taken over a significant portion of the traditional activities carried out by media professionals. From a technological point of view, these uses primarily rely on machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision techniques, complemented by generative models that automatically analyze, generate, and interpret text, sound, and images. Although these technologies contribute to increased efficiency, faster work, and reduced operating costs, they also pose significant risks, particularly regarding the spread of false information. From a theoretical perspective, artificial intelligence goes beyond the status of a technological tool, being conceptualized as a communicational actor that actively intervenes in the generation, structuring, and circulation of messages, influencing the relationships between producers, content, and audiences in the current media environment. Full article

Lost circulation is a significant challenge in drilling operations, leading to fluid losses, increased non-productive time, and well instability. This paper develops a predictive model to quantify lost circulation in the Al Jeribe Formation in the Al-Omar field, one of the largest oilfields in the Middle East. Lost circulation is especially prevalent when drilling through the Al Jeribe formation due to the presence of vugs and caves. However, current models for predicting lost circulation often suffer from limited accuracy and efficiency due to the complexity of geological formations and the variability of drilling conditions, leading to unreliable predictions in challenging environments. This research aims to overcome these limitations by developing a more accurate and efficient predictive model tailored to the Al Jeribe Formation, providing valuable insights to mitigate fluid loss and improve drilling efficiency. This paper introduces a novel predictive model for lost circulation in the Al Jeribe Formation, utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained on extensive field data from over 100 wells. The model incorporates key drilling parameters such as mud weight (MW), yield point (Yp), equivalent circulation density (ECD), rate of penetration (ROP), revolutions per minute (RPM), strokes per minute (SPM), Plastic viscosity (PV), and weight on bit (WOB) as input parameters. The ANN achieved excellent predictive performance, with Training R² = 0.99 and Testing R² = 0.99. Error metrics also confirmed strong generalization, with RMSE = 1.70% (training) and 1.40% (testing), and AAPE = 11.0% (training) and 10.2% (testing). In addition, the model identified the most critical parameters influencing lost circulation and provided optimized parameter ranges to mitigate fluid loss during drilling operations. This study focuses on lost circulation prediction in the Al Jeribe Formation, identifying key drilling parameters and providing optimized ranges to reduce losses and improve wellbore stability. It offers insights not covered in previous research, specifically targeting the Al Jeribe Formation. The model predicts lost circulation and suggests practical adjustments to drilling parameter values. The findings are expected to enhance drilling efficiency and minimize downtime in the Al-Omar field. This methodology can also be applied to similar geological formations worldwide to reduce lost circulation in oil fields. Full article