Search Results (6,495)

Tributary-to-mainstem discontinuities (TMDs) are understudied, but are likely common in river networks, arising from abrupt transitions in stream order and dominant ecological factors. We present a conceptual model of aquatic macroinvertebrate (AMI) TMD directionality and relative magnitude by contrasting the impacts of hydrography, geochemistry, and sediment transport on tributary-related channel-floor precipitate cementation and the mainstream embeddedness (burial) of channel-floor substrata in fine sediment. We test that model using AMI assemblage density/m², species richness/sample, and diversity data from 24 tributaries confluent with the regulated Colorado River in Grand Canyon through pairwise and multivariate analyses of long-term discharge records and substrate and water-quality data in three habitats: tributaries, their confluences, and adjacent mainstream habitats. Mean AMI density decreased 2.7-fold from low to high cementation, 6.1-fold from low-to-high embeddedness, and 136.0-fold across combined gradients. We also analyzed pre-dam aquatic insect literature, finding that TMDs were naturally common in Glen Canyon upstream but were more strongly tributary-positive (discontinuity magnitude, D_mag = 0.62 in pre-dam Glen Canyon) compared to tributaries in the post-dam Grand Canyon (D_mag = 0.31). We conclude that, depending on D_mag directionality, tributary confluences can function as hotspots or barriers to AMI assemblage development. Our results demonstrate that TMDs are and were common in the contemporary regulated and natural unregulated Colorado River corridor, and we expand the concept of biotic discontinuity to improve understanding of fluvial ecosystem ecology and constraints on river and dam management. Full article

L. pratensis is a significant pest of cotton. Clarifying the intestinal bacterial structure of L. pratensis can provide a theoretical basis for the development of new pest biological control strategies. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to characterize the intestinal bacterial communities across five L. pratensis populations, and the functions of their core metabolic pathways were predicted. The results showed that the intestinal bacterial communities of the five L. pratensis populations comprised 16 phyla, 25 classes, 54 orders, 85 families, 133 genera, and 187 species. Diversity analysis revealed that the diversity of the intestinal bacterial community exhibited a dynamic trend of first increasing and then decreasing during the pest’s growth and development. Specifically, the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices of the nymphal stage were significantly higher than those of the egg and adult stages (p < 0.05). The dominant phylum, class, order, family, genus and species shared by the five groups were Proteobacteria (93.17%), Gammaproteobacteria (48.71%), Rickettsiales (43.83%), Anaplasmataceae (49.39%), Wolbachia (43.83%) and Wolbachia (43.82%). Among them, Acinetobacter was mainly found in the first instar nymph stage, and Serratia was mainly distributed in the fifth instar nymph and female and male adults. Functional prediction results showed that the intestinal bacterial community was mainly enriched in core pathways, including metabolism, genetic information processing, and environmental information processing. This study provides a new target for green prevention and control of L. pratensis and also provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the succession law and functional mechanism of its gut microbiota. Full article

Illumina sequencing of segment 2, which encodes the polymerase basic subunit 2 (PB2) of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of a divergent amnoonvirus recently detected in tissues of Nile tilapia farmed in Egypt, revealed the presence of two genetic variants of the same virus: AmnoonvirusEGY1F and -H. The phylogenetic and genetic analyses presented in this study support the inclusion of both variants in the genus Tilapinevirus, family Amnoonviridae, order Articulavirales. The Egyptian strains formed distinct, well-supported clades in both nucleotide- and amino acid-based trees, showing a notable divergence from unclassified amnoonviruses and clustered with members of the genus Tilapinevirus. Within the genus Tilapinevirus, both Egyptian strains were divergent from all tilapia lake virus (TiLV) strains, whose full RNA segment 2 sequences are available in public databases, as well as the newly isolated Tilapinevirus poikilos from the fancy-tailed guppy. The Egyptian strains were also divergent from TiLV strains identified in Israel and Lake Victoria. Although the PB2 proteins of AmnoonvirusEGY1F and -H exhibited striking similarity, several mutations were detected that altered the sequence of their antigenic cell epitopes. Some of these mutations in the AmnoonvirusEGY1H strain were predicted to affect PB2-encoded functions. Collectively, findings of this study aid in the growing understanding of viral diversity and PB2 evolution in emerging amnoonviruses, particularly the role of amino acid substitutions in affecting the encoded protein structure, function, and immunogenicity. Full article

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) has emerged as a key enabler for Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) and autonomous sensing networks, but its reliability is severely affected by salinity-induced attenuation, scattering, and turbulence. This work presents a high-speed and salinity-resilient UWOC architecture that jointly exploits Polarization Division Multiplexing (PDM) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) diversity to enhance link capacity and robustness in realistic oceanic conditions. Two 1 Gbps NRZ data channels at 1550 nm were transmitted using continuous-wave lasers and evaluated using a hybrid OptiSystem–MATLAB simulation framework with full channel modeling of absorption, scattering, turbulence, and salinity (32–36 ppt). Results reveal that the proposed PDM-MIMO system achieves more than an order-of-magnitude bit-error-rate (BER) reduction compared with non-MIMO or single-polarization baselines, maintaining acceptable BER levels up to 20 m. Performance degradation with increasing salinity is quantified, and results confirm that combined PDM and spatial diversity effectively mitigate salinity-induced losses. The presented design demonstrates a viable and scalable solution for next-generation underwater sensing and communication networks in coastal and deep-sea ecosystems. Full article

Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks employ learnable univariate activation functions on edges rather than fixed node nonlinearities. Standard B-spline implementations require $O\left(3KW\right)$ parameters per layer (K basis functions, W connections). We introduce shared Gaussian radial basis functions with learnable centers ${\mu }_k^{\left(l\right)}$ and widths ${\sigma }_k^{\left(l\right)}$ maintained globally per layer, reducing parameter complexity to $O(KW+2LK)$ for L layers—a threefold reduction, while preserving Sobolev convergence rates $O\left(h^{s-\Omega }\right)$. Width clamping at ${\sigma }_{min}={10}^{-6}$ and tripartite regularization ensure numerical stability. On MNIST with architecture $[784,128,10]$ and $K=5$, RBF-KAN achieves $87.8\%$ test accuracy versus $89.1\%$ for B-spline KAN with $1.4\times$ speedup and 33% memory reduction, though generalization gap increases from $1.1\%$ to $2.7\%$ due to global Gaussian support. Physics-informed neural networks demonstrate substantial improvements on partial differential equations: elliptic problems exhibit a $45\times$ reduction in PDE residual and maximum pointwise error, decreasing from $1.32$ to $0.18$; parabolic problems achieve a $2.1\times$ accuracy gain; hyperbolic wave equations show a $19.3\times$ improvement in maximum error and a $6.25\times$ reduction in $L^2$ norm. Superior hyperbolic performance derives from infinite differentiability of Gaussian bases, enabling accurate high-order derivatives without polynomial dissipation. Ablation studies confirm that coefficient regularization reduces mean error by 40%, while center diversity prevents basis collapse. Optimal basis count $K\in [3,5]$ balances expressiveness and overfitting. The architecture establishes Gaussian RBFs as efficient alternatives to B-splines for learnable activation networks with advantages in scientific computing. Full article

Freshwater fungi remain insufficiently documented in the Mediterranean river systems despite their key roles in organic-matter turnover. Here, we surveyed filamentous fungi associated with submerged decaying plant debris in the Zújar River (Extremadura, southwestern Spain) using a culture-based approach combined with phenotypic characterization and multilocus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef-1α). A total of 49 strains were isolated and identified, revealing a diverse assemblage of Ascomycota. Five taxa are described as new to science: Arachnopeziza torrehermosensis, Conioscypha clavatispora, Neoanungitea torrehermosensis, Ophioceras diversisporum and Polyscytalum submersum. Notably, Polyscytalum submersum represents the first record of the genus for the Iberian Peninsula, while Arachnopeziza torrehermosensis, Neoanungitea torrehermosensis and Ophioceras diversisporum constitute the first records of their respective genera for Spain (and Neoanungitea torrehermosensis also for Europe). In addition, phylogenetic evidence supports taxonomic refinements within the orders Magnaporthales and Conioscyphales, including the establishment of Protophioceras to accommodate Ophioceras sichuanense and the establishment of Protoconioscypha for two previously misclassified Conioscypha species. Overall, this first mycological report of submerged plant debris in the Zújar River substantially expands knowledge of freshwater fungal diversity in the region and provides a refined framework for the taxonomy of several lineages of aquatic-associated ascomycetes. Full article

Mycological studies in China have achieved substantial and encouraging progress in recent decades. In this paper, the discoveries of novel fungal taxa published by Chinese mycologists and the documented records of fungi distributed in China are statistically summarized based on the data retrieved from Fungal Names and the Checklist of Fungi in the China database, respectively. Our analysis reveals that a total of 2875 Chinese scholars have published 20,826 new fungal taxa to date, 65% of which were published within the past decade. During the same period, Chinese mycologists placed great importance on archiving fungal diversity data and have completed the compilation of the national checklist of fungi. Based on 382,503 records derived from over 18,200 research articles and 300 books, a total of 31,180 fungal species, spanning 17 phyla, 65 classes, 240 orders, 840 families, and 4531 genera, have been documented in China. The southwestern region, especially Yunnan Province, exhibits the highest richness of documented species. These results provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of fungal biodiversity and taxonomic studies in China, providing a valuable foundation for future investigations. Full article

The diversity of religious traditions and the increasing prevalence of religious pluralism, along with critical reflections on scientism and the relationship between philosophy and religion, have stimulated global scholarly discussions on Confucianism—its identity as a tradition of learning, its religious dimensions, and its relation to religion in general. These discussions have been further enriched by the discovery of early Confucian texts and renewed examination of existing Confucian classics. As the founder and chief architect of Confucianism, and as both a perceiver and teacher of its truths, Confucius demonstrated a distinct religious consciousness in his teachings and practices. This is reflected in his beliefs concerning spirits and deities, his views on sacrifice, and his ritual awareness—not only through his faith in Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven and his reverence for ancestral spirits, but also in his belief in natural deities. However, Confucius’s conception of natural deities and his associated sacrificial views remain relatively underexplored. This paper examines how Confucius distinguished between the physical and the divine aspects of nature, recognized the connection between the order (or disorder) of these two realms and political governance, maintained faith in natural deities, and advocated for corresponding ritual practices. By systematically reconstructing Confucius’s beliefs regarding natural deities, this study aims to fill a significant gap in current research. Full article

The ambivalent sexism theory supports differences in the manifestations of sexism among individuals with diverse genders and sexual orientations. However, it still remained unclear whether individuals who share common strong cultural values endorse different levels of sexism according to their gender and sexual orientation. The current study aimed to examine differences in sexist attitudes based on gender and sexual orientation among Korean adults. We first tested measurement invariance in a Korean Multi-dimensional Sexism Inventory (K-MSI) between heterosexuals (n = 374) and sexual minorities (n = 445), and second, we compared the latent means across groups using the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model. The results confirmed the first-order six-factor structure of the K-MSI with adequate internal consistency, and supported partial scalar invariance across heterosexual and sexual minority men and women. The MIMIC model approach revealed significant age, gender, and sexual orientation differences in most of hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent sexism (BS) components. Overall, heterosexuals reported higher levels of sexism than non-heterosexuals within each gender. Gender differences in BS have become nuanced when sexual orientation was considered. The current study also provides an overview of Korean culture that may uniquely influences individuals’ sexist attitudes, which would interest international researchers. Full article

Rapid removal of chemically diverse organic pollutants remains a major challenge in aqueous decontamination. In this study, atmosphere-controlled defect engineering was used to activate anatase TiO₂ as a rapid adsorbent operating on the minute scale, exhibiting low charge selectivity under the investigated conditions. A reduced black TiO₂ (B–TiO₂), produced by inert annealing, achieved ≈100% removal of cationic methylene blue within ~6 min and ≈91% uptake of anionic methyl orange within ~3 min, whereas pristine and air-annealed TiO₂ showed only marginal adsorption under identical conditions. Correlative structural and surface-sensitive analyses indicated that this behaviour was associated with a chemically activated near-surface region enriched in reduced titanium contributions, defect-associated or non-lattice oxygen environments and a locally perturbed anatase framework, together with finely dispersed carbon-related motifs integrated within the oxide matrix. Adsorption kinetics were described, within experimental resolution, by pseudo-second-order fitting, while intraparticle diffusion analysis supported sequential regimes initiated by rapid interfacial attachment. Equilibrium analysis yielded apparent maximum capacities of 6.116 mg g⁻¹ for methylene blue and 2.950 mg g⁻¹ for methyl orange, reflecting adsorption governed by surface heterogeneity for cationic species and an apparent saturation-type response for anionic uptake. Overall, controlled surface non-stoichiometry emerges as a viable strategy to enhance adsorption kinetics in TiO₂, providing a transferable design framework for developing oxide-based adsorbents for sustainable water-treatment applications. Full article

Pesticide use in agriculture can have negative collateral effects on the environment. In this study, two groups of treatments (G1 and G2) based on active substances (ASs) with different mobility were evaluated in order to determine pesticide residues in the soil and their impact on soil microbial populations in two vineyards located in two Denominations of Origin (D.O.). Soil samples were collected in July, October, and the following March over two consecutive years. Pesticide residues were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after QuEChERS extraction. Microbial genera were identified by the amplification of the fungal ITS regions with the universal primers ITS86F and ITS4R, and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene (V4 region) with primers 515F and 806R. Although G1 consistently showed higher residues, primarily attributable to azoxystrobin, no significant differences were observed between the two pesticide groups in the total pesticide residues or diversity of microbial communities. The factors D.O., campaign, and sampling month influenced the concentration of residues. Several ASs exhibited different dissipation dynamics depending on the D.O. Azoxystrobin and metrafenone were the most persistent in soil. The LEfSe analysis associated four beneficial fungal genera with the G2 group. The judicious selection of ASs can help to minimize the pesticide residues in soil and their harmful effects on beneficial genera. Full article

Aconitum pendulum Busch (Tiebangchui), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is recognized for its diverse pharmacological properties and for its significant toxicity. The Zanba stir-frying processing method is commonly employed to mitigate toxicity and enhance efficacy; however, the underlying chemical principles remain insufficiently studied. In order to address this issue, a phytochemical investigation was conducted on the diterpenoid alkaloids present in Zanba-processed Tiebangchui. Eleven diterpenoid alkaloids were isolated by means of chromatographic techniques, including silica gel column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis (single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, HR-ESI-MS) and comparison with literature data. The compounds were identified as 12-epi-turpelline (1), 12-epi-napelline (2), 12-acetyl-napelline (3), azitine (4), flavaconitine (5), nagarutine C (6), nagarutine D (7), 16-epi-pyroaconine (8), spicatine B (9), 3-deoxyaconitine (10), and napelline (11). Notably, compound 1 was characterized as a novel alkaloid. Additionally, compounds 3–9 were isolated from this processed material for the first time. These findings provide crucial chemical insights into the detoxification mechanism of Zanba processing. Subsequent pharmacological evaluation revealed that compounds 10 and 11 exhibit notable anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, given the structural analogy between the novel alkaloid 1 and the active compound 11, compound 1 is proposed as a promising lead for future structure–activity relationship studies and semi-synthetic modification. Full article

The Social Internet of Things (SIoT) enables collaborative service provisioning among interconnected devices by leveraging socially inspired trust relationships. This paper proposes a socially driven SIoT protocol for trust-aware service selection, enabling dynamic friendship formation and ranking among distributed service-providing devices based on observed execution behavior. The protocol integrates detection accuracy, round-trip time (RTT), processing time, and device characteristics within a graph-based friendship model and employs PageRank-based scoring to guide service selection. Industrial computer vision workloads are used as a representative testbed to evaluate the proposed SIoT trust-evaluation framework under realistic execution and network constraints. In homogeneous environments with comparable service-provider capabilities, friendship scores consistently favor higher-accuracy detection pipelines, with F1-scores in the range of approximately 0.25–0.28, while latency and processing-time variations remain limited. In heterogeneous environments comprising resource-diverse devices, trust differentiation reflects the combined influence of algorithm accuracy and execution feasibility, resulting in clear service-provider ranking under high-resolution and high-frame-rate workloads. Experimental results further show that reducing available network bandwidth from 100 Mbps to 10 Mbps increases round-trip communication latency by approximately one order of magnitude, while detection accuracy remains largely invariant. The evaluation is conducted on a physical SIoT testbed with three interconnected devices, forming an 11-node, 22-edge logical trust graph, and on synthetic trust graphs with up to 50 service-providing nodes. Across all settings, service-selection decisions remain stable, and PageRank-based friendship scoring is completed in approximately 20 ms, incurring negligible overhead relative to inference and communication latency. Full article

This paper presents a framework for inverse modeling of microwave filters based on a conditional diffusion model developed to address the intrinsic non-uniqueness of reconstructing coupling matrices from specified S-parameter responses. In the forward diffusion process, Gaussian noise is progressively added to the filter design variables, and a denoising network conditioned on the target electrical responses is trained to predict the injected noise at arbitrary diffusion steps. At inference, we initialize with Gaussian noise and execute the learned reverse denoising dynamics process; independent seeds yield diverse sets of physically feasible design-variable solutions that satisfy identical electrical-response constraints. Experiments on fourth- and sixth-order filters show that the proposed method outperforms multivalued neural networks (MVNNs) and conditional generative adversarial networks (CGANs) in prediction accuracy, solution diversity, and cumulative training cost, thereby providing a robust and efficient framework for inverse microwave-filter modeling. Full article

Orbea is a morphologically diverse lineage within the subtribe Stapeliinae, yet plastome evolution in Arabian taxa remains insufficiently characterized. This study reports the first complete chloroplast genomes of Orbea sprengeri subsp. commutata and O. wissmannii var. eremastrum and investigates plastome structure, sequence variability, and phylogenetic relationships across tribe Ceropegieae. Chloroplast genomes were assembled, annotated, and compared with 13 published plastomes representing major Ceropegieae lineages. Both Arabian plastomes displayed the typical quadripartite structure and identical gene content of 114 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and four ribosomal RNA genes. However, O. wissmannii var. eremastrum exhibited pronounced structural divergence, possessing the largest plastome recorded for the tribe (170,054 bp), an 8.9 kb expansion of the inverted repeat regions, and an 8.4 kb inversion spanning the ndhG–ndhF region. Comparative analyses revealed conserved gene order across Ceropegieae but identified six highly variable loci (accD, clpP, ndhF, ycf1, psbM–trnD, and rpl32–trnL) as potential DNA barcodes. Selection pressure analyses indicated strong purifying selection across most genes, with localized adaptive signals in accD, ndhE, ycf1, and ycf2. Phylogenomic reconstruction consistently resolved the two Arabian Orbea taxa as a distinct clade separate from the African O. variegata. This study fills a gap in Ceropegieae plastid genomics and underscores the importance of sequencing additional Orbea species to capture the full extent of genomic variation within this diverse genus. Full article